What we do

Mentor Young People

Training to Mentor Young People

Prospective Buddy Plus+ mentors undergo a three day training course before being accepted.

Once trained the project matches a volunteer mentor with a young person and that relationship will hopefully last for six months or longer, with the mentor and young person spending an hour or two a week together.  Young people are referred to the project by Youth Offending Team workers; Youth Inclusion Support Partnership (YISP) workers and LACES teachers.

A mentor will spend the first few weeks building up a rapport in a relaxed social setting.  The literacy and numeracy support provided is designed to be informal, fun, relevant to the young person’s interests and tailored to suit their learning style/level of ability.  Mentors always arrange to meet their mentees somewhere in the community, in a place that ‘feels comfortable’.  Mentors have used local libraries, cafés or just arranged a walk.  

At the end of a successful relationship the young person will receive a certificate and they will be able to ‘celebrate’ with their mentor.

Training to be a Volunteer Mentor
ROWA! Initial Volunteer Training for Buddy Plus+:-

1. The principles of mentoring
2. Health and safety
3. Child protection; Confidentiality
4. The youth justice system
5. Understanding young people
6. Understanding the challenges faced by looked after young people
7. Problems young people face in the school system
8. Ways to help young people improve their life skills.

Become a volunteer mentor