Mentoring Volunteer

To support the Project Co-ordinator in transforming young lives and futures, helping young people Turn around their lives and move towards employment and next steps education and away from crime and criminal associations and gangs.

To be a vital part of a special team of volunteer mentors working with around 20 young people on a weekly basis and for around 12 months.

All the evidence is that having positive and supportive adults in their lives (perhaps for the first time) can have a massive positive benefit to the young people we work with.

To make this project possible, for which we receive no local authority or other statutory funding.

By using volunteers, we also bring a much wider range of life experience and skills into the project and to the support of our young people.

Thank you for being part of making that happen. If we keep one young person out of juvenile detention or prison, we not only change a life, we also save the public purse around £250,000 per annum.

Primary role and responsibilities

• Following full training and induction, and with the support of your project co-ordinator, you and another volunteer will be matched with a young person who needs your help. Together you will provide a support team to help them achieve their ambitions.

As part of your role you will

• Commit to meeting with your mentee on a weekly basis and for up to 2 hours per week.
• Work with your co-mentor to offer support and encouragement to move your mentee towards their aim and aspirations, as detailed on their PATH plan. This is a structure process / step by step process that a young person follows once referred to the service of HoodEx from initial contact to eventual outcomes to ensure consistency, accountability designed to support the young person
• Be reliable and consistent in your relationships and dealing with our young people and provide an example for them to follow in their relationships with others.
• Provide help and support around education and employment and other opportunities.
• Help them fill in a job application or talk them through choices for example.
• Support their personal development and their confidence and self-esteem
• Be a sounding board for them when faced with difficult situations and choices
• Encourage them to reflect on who they spend time with and what they get up to and how to get out of difficult situations.
• Help them to avoid negative and anti-social behaviours and influences

Mentor to commit to meeting with their appointed mentee on a weekly basis for up to 2 hours per week - early evening,weekend and school holidays

Skills

• Active Listener
• Good communicator
• Supportive
• Empathy and Non-Judgmental Attitude
• Resilience & Patience
• Motivated
• Patience and understanding
• Building Rapport & Trust