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► The Mentor Project - North Tyneside

What : A project that supports vulnerable children and young people in North Tyneside is seeking volunteers to act as mentors and advocates. The Mentor Project, which was established in 1997, works with youngsters who are accommodated by the local authority, having problems at home and/or involved with the Youth Offending Service.

Volunteer Mentors

Mentoring is a one-to-one non-judgemental relationship in which an individual voluntarily gives up time to support the growth and development of another so as to help them take control of their choices and actions.

The volunteer mentor will build up a relationship with a young person with whom they have weekly sessions. Sessions might involve participating in an activity or visiting a place of interest. Mentors need to maintain accurate and up to date records and plan carefully.

The Mentor Project also provides volunteer advocates to vulnerable young people in North Tyneside. These young people who are in care or ‘in need’ have a legal right to an advocate if they have a problem or concern, or want to make a complaint. An advocate should be committed to promoting and obtaining rights for all young people and children. Advocates see young people when requested and contact is led by the wishes of the young person.

What is the mentor’s role?
The role of the mentor is to develop objectives with the young person over time. Initially the role is to develop a relationship through social activities in order to establish a level of trust on which objective setting can be based. Due to the young person’s circumstances, objectives may take time to set, and may be low key.

If the young person has reached a certain level of stability in his or her life, and he or she is able to make a commitment to an ongoing relationship, the role of the mentor will be to meet objectives that are agreed at the start of the relationship. These are achieved through the development of a trusting relationship that involves social elements but which retains a focus on the objectives agreed at the start.

Where will I be mentoring?
The mentor will become involved with their young person on an outreach basis only. Where the mentor chooses to go with their mentee is entirely up to the mentor and mentee. Mentors will be expected to attend regular supervision sessions at the Youth Village, North Shields.

What expenses are available?
There will be full reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in carrying out mentor related work or training, providing that a receipt is obtained or travel mileage is completed. In addition to this £7 per session will be given to each mentor to spend on activities with their young person.

What will I have to do to become a mentor?
Successfully complete the ten-week Mentoring Skills training programme. This training course has been designed to give you the opportunities to acquire the skills, confidence and knowledge that is needed to begin direct work with the young people referred to the project. Given that this programme is accredited learners will be expected to keep a portfolio of their learning, which will be assessed by an external moderator.

What is the project’s structure?
The Mentor Project comprises of one manager, one project co-ordinator, one full time project worker, one part time project worker and is part of North Tyneside Council’s Children Services.
How much time do I need to commit to being a mentor?
We hope that you will commit yourself to us for at least twelve months after completing the Basic Mentoring Skills course. Naturally we understand that sometimes personal circumstances change and a mentor regrettably needs to leave us. All we ask is that you make the commitment in good faith at the outset of your involvement. It can be very damaging for a young person to have a close and trusted adult let them down and we ask you to bear this in mind. If a mentor wishes to end their association with us they are expected to give a reasonable period of notice so that we can plan a satisfactory ending.

We would expect you to give about four hours per week to your work with us. This time will be taken up planning your sessions, attending monthly supervision and most importantly being with your young person. Once established each mentor is expected to take responsibility for maintaining the mentoring relationship with their young person.

What will I get out of mentoring?
The training is accredited and on successful completion you will receive a Mentoring Skills qualification level two. You will increase your knowledge of young people’s issues and develop new skills. The experience of being a mentor will give you an invaluable insight into the Looked After System and the Criminal Justice System. You will build your self-confidence, enhance your career opportunities and will gain the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping someone.

Independent Visitors Scheme

An Independent Visitor is someone who will;

Visit and befriend a child or young person who is accommodated by the local authority and has infrequent or no contact with his/her family

Contribute towards the child’s emotional, social and educational development

Be aware of the child’s ethnicity, cultural and religious needs
Encourage a child to exercise his/her rights and to participate in decisions affecting him/her

Attend a child’s statutory review where possible

Support the care plan for the child

To become an Independent Visitor;

The Independent Visitor must have successfully achieved the 10-week Mentoring Skills course.

Frequency of contact;

Unlike mentoring there is not a set frequency of contact between the Independent Visitor and the young person. It tends to be, however, about once a week.

The Independent Visitor will be expected to attend regular supervision with project staff.

The relationship;

The Independent Visitor relationship is different to that of a mentor relationship in that it is not time limited, the frequency of contact is not necessarily weekly and it focuses less on achieving objectives

The Independent Visitor is expected to be open-minded and be questioning on the child’s behalf.

Inevitably there will be variations in the length of time the relationship between the Independent Visitor and the young person will last. Some relationships will draw to a natural conclusion in a relatively short period, others will last for a few years and in some cases a lifetime friendship could develop.

Length of contact;

Commitment needed

Independent Visitors will be expected to make a minimum two-year commitment to the Independent Visitor scheme

Skills Acquisition :

We are looking for people who are non-judgmental, good at listening, open to learning, enthusiastic, motivated and reliable. Mentors need to use their own initiative and be sensitive to the needs of the young person.

Volunteers receive free accredited training, out of pocket expenses and on-going support and supervision. Mentoring allows volunteers to put something back into the community, develop their knowledge of the looked after and youth justice systems, have new experiences, enhance career opportunities and develop new skills.