Mentoring
Mentoring has been a key part of our services since 2008
Trained volunteer mentors, from all stages and walks of life, gift their time to offering guidance to a young person by building a trusting relationship and modelling positive behaviours in a fun and caring environment.
A mentor offers the young mentee a safe place to discuss any issues and supports them to access new experiences, explore interests and develop new life skills.
The mentor and mentee relationship is an opportunity for the mentee to improve their:
Self-confidence
Resilience
Emotional wellbeing.
Young people are referred into the mentoring scheme through school, professionals, or parents.
“Thanks a million for always being a voice of reason, compassion and common sense. We will always be grateful to you.”
How does it work?
A mentor meets with their mentee on a regular basis, usually for an hour once a week. It is a joint decision between the mentor and mentee what they do with their time. This is often based on the mentee’s interests and hobbies, what is available in the community and what they feel comfortable with, but it could be to go for a walk, enjoy a hot drink and snack or perhaps visit a local place of interest.
A trained mentor commits to taking on the role for a year, providing the young mentee with regular, consistent support.
Mentors and young people often describe their relationships as transformative:
"Our child was very sad and isolated, spending days alone in her room. After connecting with her mentor, she now smiles, enjoys family time, and is even considering returning to school to reconnect with friends. Her transformation has been incredible; she loves shopping and taking care of herself. As parents, we were at a loss, but our Kids Inspire mentor changed not only her life but ours as well. We are forever grateful!"
The Mentee
A young person, of eight-years and over who is experiencing:
Issues with making or keeping friendships
An early target of low-level bullying
Early anxieties (overly worries)
Low-level issues with their family.
A mentee will come to Kids Inspire in one of two ways:
By a member of our clinical team as a ‘step-down’ service
A young person may have already received a therapeutic intervention through Kids Inspire and the therapist, in consultation with parents, may feel that they would benefit from further non-therapeutic support in the form of a mentor.
By school, a GP, a local mental-health service or by a self/ family-referral
Each young person referred will be assessed by an experienced therapist to be sure of suitability for this service and to find them a match with a trained mentor.
The Mentor
Our mentor recruitment process is thorough, ensuring that each mentor is well-prepared through ongoing training and supervision.
Training
Mentors are equipped with tools for stabilisation and are encouraged to understand the experiences of young people, focusing on what has happened to them rather than what is wrong with them.
Commitment
Mentors commit to a year-long engagement with Kids Inspire, providing consistent guidance to children and young people. For many of these young individuals, having a trustworthy adult in their lives is a new and significant experience. The bonds they form with their mentors often lead to increased participation and engagement within their communities.
“Being able to give my mentee some time, a listening ear, understanding and sometimes a shoulder to lean on is a privilege. And if we have fun as well, we both have an even more rewarding experience.”
Make a Referral
Do you know a young person who may benefit from 1:1 mentoring with a peer or adult?
Fill in this form and a member of our team will get back to you.
Mentoring leaflet
Are you interested in training to be a mentor?
Hear from mentors
An insight from some of our mentoring relationships
Joseph’s story
Joseph received mentoring support
Page updated: 7 February 2025