Info for Mentors

INFORMATION FOR

VOLUNTEER MENTORS

What is the Mentor’s Role?

What Qualities Do Mentors Need?

What Commitment Is Required From Mentors?

A mentors perspective

!!Check out Andy Graham's article on mentoring!!

The Guardian 6 August 2008

WHAT IS THE MENTOR’S ROLE?

Mentor, n. experienced and trusted advisor (Oxford Dictionary).

Young people are individually matched with a volunteer mentor who supports and guides them through the programme of personal, social and educational development. Many participants will not previously have had the benefit of a consistent relationship with a non-judgmental person who respects and values them as an individual and assists them to identify and achieve goals. Mentors develop positive and supportive relationships which promote the development of self-esteem and confidence. Mentors encourage the young person’s involvement in a variety of social, leisure and educational activities with the aim of developing social networks, social and personal awareness, skills and interests. In addition, mentors support participants in furthering their education and training and in developing the skills required in the workplace.

WHAT QUALITIES DO MENTORS NEED?

In recruiting mentors, the project looks for the following qualities:

The ability to listen to and support young people.
An interest in the welfare of young people.
An understanding of some of the issues that young people face.
The capacity to work individually with a young person.
A commitment to working in a way which does not discriminate against any group in society.
Personal attributes such as tolerance, persistence, sensitivity and warmth.

Mentoring Plus provides structured training, support and supervision for volunteers mentors as well as a variety of opportunities to build on existing abilities and develop new skills. The ‘Community Mentoring ’ Award is formally accredited through the Open College Network (Level 3). Click Here for forthcoming training dates.

WHAT COMMITMENT IS REQUIRED FROM MENTORS?

Many participants will have experienced difficult relationships with, and rejection by, people. It is important, therefore, that the project takes a consistent approach. For this reason, mentors are required to make a 12 month part-time commitment (i.e. minimum of 2 hours per week) which will include the following:

2 day mentor core training and additional training sessions as required thereafter.
Regular contact with the young people with whom they are matched.
Residential trips away.
Supporting the young person’s education and training programme.
Regular supervision with project staff

Travel expenses are reimbursed and each young person has a monthly activity allowance.

Click Here to download an expenses claim form.

A MENTORS PERSPECTIVE

(Extract from article in Bath Chronicle March 10 2003)

'Making a differnce is a great feeling'

'Mahendra Patel is a 33 year-old IT consultant from Weston who is now six months into the year long scheme. He volunteers his time once a week to spend a few hours with his charge, 15 year-old Max. And the teenager is already reaping the benefitsof what may be his first constructive relationship with an adult.

Mahendra said: ' The idea is to take your mentee away from their normal environment, whatever background that may be, into an adult environment. We aim to intergrate them back into an adult community and help them to take responibilty for themselves and give them self-esteem and confidence where they have never had any before. It is very rewarding - both for the mentor and mentee. Seeing a teenager go from someone very quiet who didn't want to have a converstion, to laughing and joking and actually talking about themselves and their lives is wonderful. It is a situation that is totally alien to me - when they talk about drugs and such it is something that I simply didn't come across when I was their age. But knowing that I can make a difference in my community and can put something back is a great feeling. These teenagers have a dramatic change in their behaviour through mentoring and go from being quiet and withdrawn to being confident about themselves and interacting with their own peer group'.

'I would recommend anyone who wants to contribute to their community to give this a try - you really don't know what you are letting yourself in for to start with, but a years' commitment is nothing compared to the diffence you can make on the rest of the young person's life.'

Click here for a detailed Mentor Programme

Please phone or E-Mail us with any questions or queries. We look forward to hearing from you.