My ‘why’ to train and be a Mentor to a young person
A volunteer mentor receives training and supervision to build a trusting and positive relationship with a matched young person in need of support.
Mentor, Martyn Mead, recently told us his ‘why’ for undertaking professional training to become a mentor to a young person in need of a (non-family member) adult guiding hand.
***We are currently recruiting new Mentors (and Peer Mentors 16-18 years) to start their training in February next year. Email us***
Why did I decide to be a Mentor?
My upbringing was similar to some of our service users - my parents divorced when I was very young, Mum brought us up and we didn't have very much at all, but mum always did her best and went without a lot for us.
When I was at primary school, I was with many other similar families with not much money, but when I went to secondary the wider catchment area of children really exposed the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ and I found it tough to deal with at first.
Luckily for me my mother had a part-time job as a cleaner for a local family who had a big garden - I always loved gardening and they gave me the job of looking after their gardens. Jim, took me under his wing and understood how I felt at the school and explained that if I did well at school I would have a great chance of improving my outlook and prospects and my big advantage would always be that I would be hungrier than children who may have been better off financially.
Initially, I thought why does he care? But he always asked how I was doing and it drove me to do my best - I left school with 10 O-Levels and 3 A Levels. Mum needed me to work and while I had lots of job offers I took the job at Barclays that Jim got me the application for because I thought I owed him that for his support over my secondary school years. It turned out to be THE best decision I ever made leading to a 40-year career in investment banking and my lifestyle changed unbelievably.
I decided when I became involved with Kids Inspire that I wanted to try to do for others what Jim had once done for me. If I could change a young mentees outlook and life the way Jim had for me it would be simply fantastic.
What advice to give someone considering Mentoring?
LISTEN! Children often tell you things in a ‘throw away’ manner. My first mentee told me so much in our first meeting that after I had dropped her back at her home I sat in my car and wrote down the names of her pets, her favourite game and her favourite hobbies. So the next time I saw her I asked, “How are Hanoff and Philly?” she couldn't believe I knew the names of her pets, I quickly replied: "You told me last time" and instantly we had a bond.
As well as being a Mentor, Martyn takes on challenges on behalf of Kids Inspire. Pictured: Martyn at the end of his fundraising cycle ride from London to Paris.
My second mentee is really keen on trains and the Underground - our first face to face meeting after the video introduction I learned of his love of the Underground. Later I collated a list of interesting facts of all the lines and he LOVED that and whenever our meetings start slowly I mention the underground and he is instantly enthusiastic.
What concerns do new mentors have?
The same as everyone else! When you do your training you will be asked what are my hopes and fears – and it’s amazing how responses match up on every training course:
· Will I get on with my mentee?
· What entertainment do you suggest?
· What if they don't like me?
· How do I break the ice!?
Supervision is a great way to share experiences and ideas with fellow mentors and we share advice with each other too. It is a great support group to help the whole process of being a mentor.
How does mentoring help me?
I am actually quite a shy person with people I don't know - when I know someone, I am the polar opposite - Mentoring was a big challenge for me on that front but I find it has helped me overcome my shyness in many ways.
We are currently recruiting new Mentors. People ready to take on a new challenge and willing to help a young person with a guiding hand. Learn more by visiting this page on our website volunteer mentor or by speaking to our Mentor Project Manager by email: mentoring@kidsinspire.org.uk