Impact
Developing and deepening our impact is at the heart of our priorities as a growing youth mentoring charity. We use a range of impact measures to continually assess what we do and are always looking for new methods to provide evidence for our value as a youth mentoring organisation
The students have really appreciated mentoring, allowing them to feel listened to and supported – this has made a dramatic effect on their approach and wellbeing.
(Head of Sixth Form)
Our impact since April 2022
Our mentoring relationships are long-term and on average, a mentor will work with a young person for at least nine months.
Mentoring work is often subtle and nuanced and therefore not always easy to evidence. Our impact is measured through a combination of the following:
- Self-Evaluations by young people (before, during and after a mentoring period)
- Feedback from pastoral leaders / counselling teams within schools that young people attend
- Case Study work detailing the different journeys young people experience during their mentoring time
In 2022 / 23, we held almost 400 sessions (1:1) with over 40 young people
How will mentoring help you in life?
Mentoring has helped me understand my emotions and become more open with people.
(Girl, Year 10)
I am better equipped to make decisions about my future.
(Boy, Year 12)
I have learnt how to put down boundaries and respect myself more.
(Girl, Year 13)
What did you like most about mentoring?
The confidence the mentor had in me.
(Boy, Year 12)
I could speak about things I wouldn’t tell anyone.
(Girl, Year 10)
I always had something to look forward to.
(Boy, Year 10)
The feeling of companionship.
(Boy, Year 11)
Case Studies
An 18-year-old girl who has been in our mentoring programme for two years has recently won a place to study English Literature at University. When she started attending mentoring sessions, her mother had banned her from going to university, telling her instead that her job was to stay at home to look after her younger step-sister. The mentoring support she received provided her with the emotional tools and resilience to work for what she believed in, to apply for university and to win a place. She has just started her first year
A 16-year old-boy who had struggled with low motivation and poor mental health throughout the pandemic joined the mentoring programme for 9 months and ended up excelling in his GCSE exams and winning a 100% scholarship to a top UK boarding school where he is now studying for his A Levels
A 15-year-old boy who came to our mentoring programme with a very poor behaviour record, including aggressive incidents with staff and pupils and school exclusions, worked hard to understand and regulate his anger. With clear academic and social goals in place, he secured a place at IntoUniversity with the help of his mentoring and he is hoping to win a scholarship to a sixth form college this year
Key needs and themes
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Understanding anxiety
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Raising self-esteem
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Addressing low motivation
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Finding direction / purpose
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Managing emotions / anger
Age range
Gender mix
