The Young People

Looked After Children Team

Working with children aged 10-16 who are part of the Looked After Children Team, Family Support and Care Planning Team or the Fostering and Adoption Agency. We provide mentors to these children to give them their space to talk, engage in positive activities and raise their aspirations.

Leaving Care Team

Working with young people aged between 16-21 years who have been in care at some point in their lives. We also work with unaccompanied refugee minors. Now they are moving from the care system to independent living, mentors help them adjust to independent living and face the problems that can bring. Mentors take an active role in helping them to set up their home, shopping and seeking further education or employment.

LOFT

Working with young people aged between 10–17 years, who have alcohol and substance related problems or are at risk of offending. Mentors are there to talk to the young person, offer support and access to information, take an interest in the young person’s life and be pro-active in getting involved in positive activities as part of a multi-agency team.

CYPISP

Working with young people from 5 -17years. They can either be attending school or for a number of reasons unable to go. Our referrals come through the Children’s and Young People’s Inclusion Support Panel. Mentoring takes place in the community. Mentors help them develop their social and communication skills, build their confidence, develop motivation and encourage independence. They will be there to support the young person and help them to achieve their goals.

Schools

Working with young people aged between 5-16 years in both primary and secondary schools. Mentors go into the school to support a young person who would benefit from 1:1 attention. The mentor helps them develop motivation, communication skills and build their confidence. They can also help organise study planning, time management and revision methods, and offer an insight into the world of work.

Peer Mentoring

Working with young people in further education (years 12 & 13) who volunteer as peer mentors to support younger children at the same school. The peer mentors help with the transition into secondary education for those who may find this challenging. The peer mentors provide 1:1 support for the new Year 7’s by being a friendly face and being someone they can talk to.

The Mentors

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is the support of one individual by another within a personal relationship developed through regular contact over a period of time. Mentoring can help young people to develop their social and/or academic skills and to become more motivated. It can also help to prevent exclusion, raise aspirations and develop basic life and employability skills to ensure a positive future.

Who can be a mentor?

Any person, 18 years and over from the community - working, retired, unemployed, students - who want to make a difference to a young person. Some people think that mentors have to be managers, trained counsellors, under the age of 30, married with teenage children or experts on education – but it is not true!

What do mentors do?

Volunteer mentors are matched on a one to one basis with a young person to meet regularly over a one year period. Mentors get to know the young person and value their beliefs and opinions. Mentors also motivate, encourage and advise the young person to:

• Try their hardest to achieve their goals and ambitions

• Practice effective self management skills

• Discuss their hopes for the future and increase self belief

• Develop good communication and listening skills

What do mentors and young people talk about?

Anything! e.g. family/friends, current affairs, issues/problems, hobbies, likes/dislikes, personal experiences, successes/failures, the world of work, etc.

Are discussions confidential?

Mentoring is a relationship based on trust. It is therefore important that young people feel that most of what is said is confidential and that they will not be gossiped about. However, young people must be aware from the start that if they disclose any information about harm or potential harm to themselves or others, the mentor must discuss it with the project coordinator at the Volunteer Centre.

What checks are made for mentor suitability?

An enhanced disclosure is obtained from the Criminal Records Bureau for each mentor (a police record does not necessarily mean that an individual cannot be a mentor) and two personal references are taken up.

What training and support is available for mentors?

Training is provided in three sessions for mentors to ensure they feel confident about their role. Ongoing support is provided by staff at the Volunteer Centre who also organise regular support sessions.

What commitment is involved?

Mentors commit to one year of mentoring once being matched with a young person and mentoring with the young person can be from 1 to 2 hours per week. In addition there are the 12 hours of initial training and other group sessions.

Benefits of mentoring

Mentoring is far from a one-sided relationship. Mentors, as well as young people, gain a great deal from the mentoring relationship.

Benefits for Mentors

• Developed awareness of, and contribution towards, the community

• Improved communication and listening skills

• Developed problem solving skills

• Knowledge that they may have helped a young person through a critical stage of their life

Benefits for Young People (Mentees)

• Raised self esteem & confidence

• Increased motivation and encouragement

• Educational, career and personal advice and guidance

• Improved communication and interpersonal skills

• Improved problem solving skills

• Engaging in positive activities

• One-to-one space and attention

Benefits for the community

• Better relationships and understanding all round

• Visible examples of different generations getting along

• Role models for young people

• Young people being valued

• Young people engaging in positive activities

Tapping into Talent

Youth Mentoring

Mission Statement

We are passionately led by the needs of children and young people in the London Borough of Sutton.

We are committed to helping them:

• Increase self-esteem

• Be healthy

• Raise aspirations to reach their full potential

• Participate in positive activities

• Stay safe

We aim to do this by providing volunteer mentors to journey with them on a 1:1 basis for a set period of time and by working in partnership with their families and other agencies.

Values and Principles

• We work in line with Every Child Matters and its 5 outcomes.

• Led by the needs of children and young people, they play an active role developing the project.

• All relationships are voluntary, built on trust and respect.

• Relationships are structured with clear objectives.

• We recruit, screen and train every volunteer mentor.

• We regularly monitor and evaluate the project.

• Every mentor is closely supervised and supported.

• We work within boundaries of good practice and child protection.

• We work in partnership with agencies and are flexible in our approach.

• We support and value one another’s work.

• We believe in equal opportunities for every volunteer mentor and young person that we work with.