Mentors are trained volunteers who support young people through difficult times. This could mean practical help and advocacy work with a specific situation like finding a house, workshops for anger management or self esteem issues, or just someone to talk to about the ups and downs. Giving a young person this kind of positive role model and intensive one to one support that they have never had before can turn their lives around.
Doctors, schools and outside agencies are recommending our mentoring services. We do it so well we were even asked to train the local police force in mentoring skills. We carry out government approved Common Assessment Frameworks (CAF) to make sure the young person is getting access to all the services they are entitled to. We also work with families, including helping to set up a parenting group.
We are planning our next training for new mentors in May/June 2011, to meet the continuing demand. We still have places on the course, and we are looking for suitable volunteers who can spare a few hours each week to be there for a young person. Why not contact us to find out more?
Would you like a mentor?
If you are a young person who thinks they could use someone to talk to now and again, why not download the leaflet below and get it back to us… our service is free and confidential.
If you are currently working with a young person, and you believe that they would benefit from having one of our mentors, then you can make a referral using the form below. Please note that when a young person is referred we still ask that they complete one of our leaflets for young people.
Meet Starbuck….
The Door has completely changed my life. My Mentor from the Light at the Door helped me cope when I was homeless, and has been an invaluable friend ever since. Now, I’m training in Peer Mentoring, to help others the same way. I do woodwork downstairs, where I make items the Door can sell.
The Door does awesome summer trips -last year we walked up Snowdon. That was a great achievement for me, and greatly changed my attitude to challenges.
The Staff at the coffee bar are welcoming, and it’s a fun place to socialise. I feel safe there, and it was a place I could escape to when I was having difficulties at home. Giving people the opportunity to volunteer in the coffee bar and on the Youth Forum shows them that what they do and say can make a difference. The Door reaches out to young people who everyone else has given up on.
Starbuck Friend aged 18
Have you got a listening ear?
If you or your organisation would like to be trained and equipped in mentoring young people, or supporting their families, we would love to hear from you.
