Why Become a Mentor to a Young Person, Business Mentor or Coach
Young people face many challenges in life, and having a mentor can make a significant difference.
Regrettably, one out of three young people grow up without a mentor, this is typically a trusted adult, most commonly a parent or carer.
Failures in the household, and school, mean that often young people may feel disconnected and struggle to make important life choices without guidance.
Yorkshire Mentoring’s primary objective is to work together to ensure that every referred young person has access to a mentor who can help them navigate life's challenges.
What Makes a Good Mentor & Coach
Before becoming a mentor, here are a few things to understand about the role of mentoring. Most of us have had a teacher, family member, youth worker, or coach who has mentored us and made a positive difference in our lives. Those people wore many hats, acting as advocates, role models, carers and friends. Mentors assume these different roles during the course of a relationship and share some basic qualities:
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A desire to support a young person
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Respect for young people
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Active listening skills
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Empathy
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Ability to see solutions and opportunities
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Flexibility
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Shared experience
Benefits
Mentoring relationships are a shared opportunity for learning and growth. Many mentors say that the rewards they gain are as substantial as those for their mentees and that mentoring has enabled them to:
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Have fun
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Achieve personal growth and learn more about themselves
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Improve self-esteem, and feel they are making a difference
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Gain a better understanding of other cultures and develop a greater appreciation for diversity
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Feel more productive and have a better attitude at work
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Enhance their relationships with their children
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Join and contribute to a mentoring community
Above all, a good mentor is willing to take the time to get to know their mentee, learn new things that are important to the young person, and even to be changed by their relationship.
Types of mentoring
Yorkshire Mentoring provides one-to-one community-based and school-based mentoring across a range of areas where young people face several social and economic challenges.
Our mentors support young people to overcome the barriers they face, create a change and provide a wider positive change in society.
The 2 x prongs to young person mentoring outcomes are defined by, but not limited to, the following key outcomes:
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Reducing reoffending rates
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Challenging assumptions and stereotypes around young people
Our mentors, through group work and one-to-one sessions, open up new experiences and the chance to see this through new lenses. This allows young people to gain the opportunity to increase their tools and networks to support their future success.