Volunteer Mentors for young people needing positive role models

Hope After Harm - Could you help a troubled teenager thrive?

Are you the kind of person who feels helpless when you see negative news stories about young people, or perhaps when you watched the new Adolescence drama series about teenagers and the pressures they face from social media?

The fact that you care when you see or hear these things and feel the need to help could mean that you would make a perfect volunteer mentor for a young person struggling with life as a teenager.

At Hope After Harm our New Leaf Young Peoples’ project offers a lifeline to vulnerable young people in the Thames Valley Area, (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire), through our trained volunteers who offer support and guidance when they need it.

All we ask of you is your time. Just commit to one or two hours a week to meet the young person at their school for up to 16 weeks, and to be available to them by telephone at hours agreed between you and them.

Volunteer Role Description

To be a positive influence on young people by modelling pro-social behaviour and assisting them to build self-confidence and resilience.

Overview of Key Tasks:

• To provide one-to-one support to young people most at risk of exclusion between the ages of 10 and 18.
• Assist the young person to identify their needs and goals, then to support them in attainment.
• Use Routine Outcome Measures to check progress.
• To provide case updates on our case management system.
• To raise any safeguarding concerns.
• To offer signposting for practical needs where appropriate.

Personal Specification

• We all use mentoring skills in our everyday relationships, and being able to listen in a non-judgemental fashion is essential
• You need to be encouraging, supportive and positive, and to want to help people who may have significant cognitive and behavioural challenges
• The process may not always run smoothly, so you need to be determined, reliable and able to work within agreed boundaries
• You will be required to be enhanced DBS checked for this role
• You will need to commit to meeting weekly or bi-weekly with them, be available to them by telephone (mobile phones provided by the project) at hours to be agreed between you and them.

Essential

• A drive to support vulnerable young people most at risk of exclusion or at risk of entering the youth justice system.
• Own transport or a willingness to proactively use public transport to ensure all scheduled meetings with the young person are carried out.
• A commitment to volunteer for a year supporting two young people each over a minimum 12 week period.

Our Young Peoples’ project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.This role would ideally suit people who are interested in supporting vulnerable young people through engaging with them and offering support and guidance. 

Applications are especially welcome from people with 'lived experience', people who have overcome difficult situations in their younger lives and who have the ability to engage with young people who may be struggling with the same types of issues.

Volunteers need to be able to commit to meeting weekly with the young person and to be available to them by telephone and be able to travel to meet with them in person. Training will be provided as well as a mobile phone and any necessary equipment.

Volunteers have the chance to help young people overcome the difficulties they are facing in life and work with them to set goals for life.

Our volunteers come from many backgrounds, some using the role to gain experience to qualify for educational qualifications and others who want something meaningful to do in retirement.