The two-year Practical Partners pilot project, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, has got off to a great start. Since September 2023, 21 care leavers have been referred to the project and 21 mentors have now been successfully recruited and trained to support them.
The mentors are from all over Hertfordshire and each one brings a variety of skills, experience and knowledge to the programme. They have now completed a comprehensive induction and training programme and are ready to provide one-to-one personalised support to the young person they will be matched with.
The volunteer mentors will be working with care leavers aged 16 to 25 for two years, helping them learn independent living skills and find work or education opportunities that will enable them to realise their full potential. As well as providing practical support, the mentors will help them to recognise their strengths, build their confidence and help with any emotional wellbeing issues or challenges that may arise.
The next phase involves carefully matching the mentors with the young people. We have so far held four informal ‘getting to know you’ sessions at our young people’s centres, where the care leavers talk to several different mentors over a cup of tea or a game of table tennis, giving them a chance to make a natural connection. They are then given the opportunity to voice their preference about who they will be paired with, increasing the likelihood of a successful partnership. Once a match has been agreed, the young person and the mentor begin their one-to-one meetings at mutually convenient times and locations.
One of the six young people who was successfully matched with a mentor at the Stevenage event, said:
“I really enjoyed getting to know [my volunteer mentor] today, I am now looking forward to learning new life skills, particularly around budgeting and spending smartly.”
SfYP is excited to see the positive impact that volunteer mentors will have on the lives of young people, championing their cause as they navigate the journey into adulthood.
To join our team of mentors or refer a young person to the project, please find more details on our Practical Partners webpage.
Read more about SfYP’s support for care experienced young people in Hertfordshire.
