Could you give one hour a week to a child who needs it? Jane McGowan explores the youth mentoring scheme providing Surrey with a listening ear...
According to Department for Education statistics, in 2024, there were 83,630 children looked after by local authorities in England. This figure represents an all-time high, as the number of children in care has steadily increased since 2008.
The government classifies these children as Children in Need (CIN), which also includes youngsters subject to local authority intervention, due to a ‘need’ for help or a risk to development. Typically, these youngsters have higher levels of absenteeism and lower degrees of attainment.
Add in around 120,000 people aged 5-17 who are termed young carers, and the need for many youngsters to have access to someone’s undivided attention is clear.
Which is where organisations such as MCR Pathways come in
MCR (which stands for Motivation, Commitment and Resilience) offers one-to-one mentoring for vulnerable children, including at schools across Surrey – spanning Guildford, Banstead and Staines – and at two schools in Ealing and Acton.
All of its volunteers are members of the public who give up just one hour of their week to go into a school and mentor a young person. The sessions take place during school hours and are term-time only.
“The young people we support are missing that consistent adult figure – someone who will just sit and listen, help them to believe in themselves and assist them in finding their potential,” explains Liz Grace, Surrey Partnerships and Mentor Recruitment Manager.
“Everyone has something – it is just about being able to help that person discover what that is. With no one in your corner, life can be very challenging.”
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So, what does it take to be a mentor?
Specific experience is not required, says Liz, and current participants come from a wide range of backgrounds.
“We work very hard to match our mentors with our young people, based on things like shared life experience, hobbies, personalities and so on. That’s what makes relationships flourish.”
While full training is provided, the only formal requirements are that you be over 21 and able to commit to a whole school year.
“You have to be a good listener too,” says Liz. “That’s the main thing.”
Provision begins in Year 7, via group sessions with a member of Pathways staff. Often the children have been put forward by their primary school teachers, who may feel that a child needs support in transitioning to secondary school.
“To be honest, for the child the idea of missing an hour of lessons may be the initial attraction,” laughs Liz.
Group work continues until Year 9, when children are assigned a personal mentor. Sessions are informal and very much child-led, involving anything from crochet and chess to basketball.
“Each week is driven by what the young person wants to talk about. If they just want to sit and chat, then fine. But for a lot of young people, doing another activity at the same time is quite beneficial – it helps them to open up.
“We don’t tell mentors why the child is on the programme. It’s very much the child’s choice to talk about it and explain in their own time as the relationship develops.”
Feedback has been wholly positive. A recent study by MCR Pathways in Scotland found that 83% of mentored children progressed to a positive post-school destination, compared with 62% of non-mentored.
72% of mentored children stayed on at school, as against 50% of their non-mentored peers.
“All our young people say how impactful it has been – the skills they gain, the confidence they are developing, the improvement in results,” says Liz.
“And mentors also learn a lot. They become more empathetic, gaining listening and leadership skills which they can take into their lives or careers.”
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Where you can donate your time
Family action:
Family Action is a UK-wide organisation which offers a range of services for children, young people and parents. There are centres across South West London and Berkshire, and the charity offers mentoring programmes for children and those leaving the care system.
As mentors, volunteers are asked to give a few hours of their time most weekends, in order to bring fun and friendship into the life of a child who is feeling lonely and isolated.
For more information visit: family-action.org.uk
Richmond Borough Mind
Richmond Borough Mind offers a wellbeing drop-in service for 12-25s who want to chat, relax, take part in groups/classes or receive one-to-one support, info or advice. Sessions are at Buckland’s Wharf in Kingston. Young people are welcome just to go along or parents can find out more from youth.service@rbmind.org.
The Harlequins Foundation
The Harlequins Foundation runs a mentorship programme in partnership with The Richmond upon Thames School to give school-positive students a “much needed option for further training, along with work experience opportunities”.
The programme starts in Year 10, with children referred by their school. Mentors are rugby club staff or members of the Harlequins Foundation. Find out more from: quins.co.uk.
