MENTORING


The impact of mentoring


Cath Mercer discusses supporting young people’s


life journeys through mentoring and the work of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation


mentoring projects operating across the UK providing a network of support both directly and indirectly to millions. A wide range of mentoring schemes span from


M


intergenerational community projects to mentoring young people at risk, looked-after children, young offenders, and homeless people, as well as being an integral part of refugee integration. In schools, peer mentoring has become firmly


established as a proven and sustainable student-led programme that is currently used in thousands of primary, secondary and special schools throughout the UK. Sarah Willey, head of projects with the Mentoring


and Befriending Foundation (MBF), explained: “Research shows that peer mentoring really works. In fact, it is one of the most effective support strategies in schools. It is approved by Ofsted as it engages and involves young people and – most importantly – it is sustainable.” Mentoring is typically a non-judgemental relationship


conducted via one-to-one or in a group setting, where an individual or individuals voluntarily give their time to support and encourage others. This is usually developed at a time of transition in someone’s life, and lasts for a significant and sustained period of time. A befriender on the other hand, is a trained


volunteer who offers friendship, within agreed limits or boundaries, to someone who is isolated or lonely. The profound impact these one-to-one relationships


have is rooted in the fact that all are voluntary, familiar and reliable. Another bonus is that the level of support they offer is totally adaptable so it can accommodate an individual’s changing needs. Mentoring and befriending can also be tailored to impact in a way that will have the greatest effect on building confidence, raising aspirations and facilitating change. Over the past decade, mentoring and befriending


has been widely recognised as a key factor in supporting communities and helping people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to reach their full potential


SecEd • January 20 2011


ENTORING IS now used throughout society as a personalised and effective means of supporting individuals, communities, businesses and schools. There are currently more than 3,500


in life. It delivers a range of key government goals within the fields of education and employment, social integration, criminal justice and community care. Recent years have witnessed a growing political


interest in mentoring and befriending and its application within different support settings – particularly within early intervention. Mentoring provides a valuable component


of intervention programmes for those at an early stage of their criminal careers and can be extremely effective when used alongside other measures and forms of support. Young offender Elijah, 17, explained: “Mentoring has given me responsibility and helped me grow up. I know what it’s like to grow up in less fortunate areas and have friends going in and out of jail so I know what it’s like to be in their shoes.” Offenders such as Elijah can go on to play a vital


role in the rehabilitation and resettlement of others once they’ve been empowered to take responsibility for them. A recent study revealed that 45 per cent of young offenders who were mentored went back into education or training. The MBF is a national charity that works to


support, develop and grow mentoring and befriending programmes throughout England. It works to influence policy and practice in the


sector and across government. It has been campaigning for many years to raise the profile of mentoring and befriending by providing the evidence that illustrates the phenomenal difference it makes to people’s lives. It is vital that more volunteers step forward to be


mentors in order to help young people deal with the pressures and temptations of today. Forging solid, trusting relationships with adults in the community gives young people access to new ideas and opportunities, builds confidence and plays a central role in growing up. While youth workers encourage young people to


have high aspirations and coach them in the skills they will need to succeed in life, other adults can provide additional support through mentoring. Last autumn, the MBF launched a campaign called


Supporting Life’s Journeys as part of the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. The campaign aims to give a voice to those who experience poverty or social exclusion while providing a forum where people can talk about their own experiences of mentoring and befriending. It is hoped that the outcome of the campaign is a


clear, coherent and universal profile of mentoring and befriending that communicates a positive impact to commissioners, funders, policy-makers and the wider public. The actual financial value of schemes will be


measured by the impact they have had on reducing the need for otherwise costly public services, for example, the number of people who have avoided public expenditure through better health, diversion from crime, or intensive family support. The campaign aims to provide further evidence of


the effectiveness of volunteer-based mentoring and befriending projects and illustrate how they can yield long-term savings in public spending. Emma Dobie, head of development at the MBF,


explained: “A key message behind the Big Society is the idea that people should get more involved in their communities. Well, you need look no further than mentoring and befriending to see how you can


Essential support: The BulliesOut team receive their Supporting Life’s Journeys award for best mentoring project in Wales. Pictured is founder Linda James (centre, right) and presenting the award is Huw Lewis, deputy minister for children, Welsh Assembly Government (right)


effectively build on individual and community strengths by bringing volunteers together with people who are socially isolated or disadvantaged. “However, while these projects are cost-effective,


they are not free and longer term investment is urgently needed if they are to continue to change the lives of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our society. Three year funding really needs to become the norm, rather than one or two-year grants or contracts that are unlikely to demonstrate results or value for money.” Some projects have already succeeded in calculating


how cost beneficial their work is to local partners, for example, the Children’s Society project, Safe in the City, based in Birmingham, provides mentors for children or young people at risk of running away from home or care. For this project it can be quite easy to measure cost


savings against a running away episode; one running away episode costs the police around £1,000, so if they work with a young person to reduce the incidents of running away, the savings are clear to see. Schools can also benefit from the unique resources


of a team of mentors. As well as offering support for children as they make the transition from primary to secondary school, programmes are used to support attainment, increase attendance, improve behaviour, and combat bullying. BulliesOut is a Peer2Peer programme that was


developed in Cardiff to assist schools with their anti- bullying campaigns. The programme recently won the Supporting Life’s Journeys Mentoring and Befriending Recognition Award for best mentoring project in Wales. Founder Linda James explained: “Peer support


encourages those being mentored and the mentors themselves to develop personal and social skills such as active listening skills, learning to negotiate and dealing with situations of conflict. “It empowers children and young people by giving


them the opportunity to experience different roles and responsibilities while learning leadership skills and teamwork. Peer mentoring has the power to support young people at critical points in their lives which has a positive impact on the whole school community. This can help reduce incidents of bullying, reduce truancy levels, give young people increased confidence, and teach some valuable life-skills.”


Emma, 14, added: “I was a bully and didn’t realise


how much I was hurting the other person. I am sorry for bullying her and hope my role as mentor will help other bullies realise the same.” Recent research undertaken by BulliesOut reavealed


that 66 per cent of children reported they had been bullied and that 86 per cent of those bullying incidents had occurred in school. Out of the 1,000 young people surveyed, 91 per cent said they would welcome a peer mentor-led anti-bullying scheme. Ailsa Bunch, behaviour manager at Morecambe


High School, agrees. She said: “Our school’s programme highlights time and again that for some young people, to be peer accountable has a far greater impact on their behaviour than the disapproval of an adult in authority. “Peer mentors in schools are providing a unique and


vital level of support, helping their mentees improve not just their behaviour but also their grades.” Acclaimed author and thought leader Sir Ken


Robinson observes in his book The Element: “Mentors open doors for us and get involved directly in our journeys. They show us the next steps and encourage us to take them.” It is vital now that government continues to


develop and support this unique level of support in our communities and schools, as year 10 Mentor Aaron explained: “You don’t have to be the brightest pupil in the school to be a good peer mentor you just need to be you. If you can make someone else feel better, it makes you feel better too.”


SecEd


• Cath Mercer is an educational journalist who works with the Mentoring And Befriending Foundation.


Further information


For templates, ideas and activities to help you raise awareness of your mentoring project, to take part in the campaign’s world record attempt dance, or to sign up to the Supporting Life’s Journeys campaign, go to www.supportinglifesjourneys.org.uk For help setting up a mentoring project and


information on training or getting your scheme accredited, see www.mandbf.org.uk For BulliesOut, visit www.bulliesout.com


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