Mentoring service
“Your mentoring project is like gold dust as it provides the children with the time and attention they so badly need and which our Social Workers and Early Help Practitioners are unable to provide.”
– Family Solutions Manager
Additional support for children & young people
We receive referrals from local Schools, Family Solutions service and community and care organisations for children and young people to access our tailored support.
Our program consists of at least six flexible one-to-one mentoring sessions for a child or young person aged 8-16 years, with a JNC qualified Senior Youth Worker.
Our program’s aims are to support vulnerable and disadvantaged youth, giving them a safe space to feel unburdened, helping them to improve their mental well-being, develop coping strategies, socialize, and gain tools to build resilience through a range of engaging and creative activities.
Responding to challenges during COVID-19
In 2020, our mentoring support grew rapidly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has and continues to have a deep impact on families in and around Rose Hill, with many complex repercussions.
Children and young people have had disruptions to their education and social lives. They also experienced loneliness, isolation and the heartbreaking loss of family members, primary carers and friends during this time.
How our mentoring works
Mentors work with the children to come up with the session plans, coming up with activities together each week. These enhancement activities provide a link to the wider world and different perspectives.
Children also get the opportunity to build confidence and explore new opportunities they wouldn’t usually have the chance to experience during this time.
“The mentor gave them opportunities to work at the outdoor allotment space. This child responded well to hands-on work and came up with tasks and executed them well. Informal education and building skills through hands-on work seems to be a useful tool to develop self-confidence and positive feelings of a job well done.”
– Mentoring report 2021
Further support and integration
The goal at the end of the mentoring sessions is to integrate children into our wider youth club activities. We’ve found that consistent and positive peer-to-peer support and regular engagement with creative activities can have a transformative effect on a child’s well-being.
Having a safe space with similar aged children, and trusted adults, whilst participating in positive activities will allow a child to still feel seen and heard by a network. In most cases, they may not have access to this support.
“This child had solo mentoring and integrative sessions with another child of their choice. Having another child alongside helped to increase self-confidence and boost peer-to-peer relationships.”
– Mentoring report 2021
Referring organisations and primary carers have responded positively to the support we’re offering to their children and have commented on how vital our service is:
“They enjoyed their time with you today, they walked home very happy with how it went and are excited to come back.”
– Parent of a child mentored
Our charity recognizes how important it is that this service continues and strives to find new funding opportunities to continue the good work of the mentoring team.