Aim

Mentor’s make a genuine difference, motivating children to make positive choices, overcome challenges and increase their confidence

Kids Inspire has provided Mentoring services to Children and Young People for eleven years and this established service is integral to our holistic family approach. Kids Inspire Mentors support young people in Essex with issues including peer relationships, bullying, risk of exclusion and school avoidance. Experienced Mentors are also trained to support those with more complex and long-term difficulties that stem from family dysfunction, social isolation and loneliness, domestic violence and abuse. Due to the pandemic we are currently facing  we urgently need to train 25 new mentors who will be matched with mentees to receive weekly support within a positive relationship outside the family environment and in the community.

The Mentoring Programme enables us to support the Children and Young People with these complex needs.

The lack of a stable home environment can have a serious impact on educational engagement. Mentor’s objectives include: 1) Increase confidence, self-esteem, 2) Engage young people into education, employment and training, 3) Motivate and encourage, 4) Promote equal opportunities, 5) Introduce positive activities, 6) Develop relationship and communication skills, 7) Develop life skills, 8) Support young people through difficult life transitions. 

Mentors meet with their mentees approximately once a week, depending on school holidays and mentor’s-mentee’s availability. The meetings can last from 1 to 2 hours depending on the activity each time. This programme is a long-term support scheme which means strong relationships are formed between mentor-mentee that translate into regular and meaningful meetings

Case studies evidence the beneficial impact of Mentoring on educational engagement, including help during the transition from primary to secondary school and support with exam-related stress. Evaluation indicates that the positive outcomes of Kids Inspire’s Mentoring programme are rooted in Mentors being equipped with tools and techniques to understand and support the underlying issues that lead Children and Young People to present with certain behaviours. Mentors are required to complete notes after every session and must attend monthly supervision with our qualified clinicians. 

M B mentoring for 2 years

"The role of a mentor is extremely fulfilling – building a relationship with a young person and seeing them grow., as well as having fun times together."

‘It was good that I could talk about how I was feeling.’ (Child) 

‘It’s like walking side by side with the young person’. (Mentor) 

 ‘Without Kids Inspire and Mentoring I have no idea where we would both be, but it wouldn’t be a good place, thank you for everything you all do.’ (Parent)

This project successfully funded on 22nd April 2020