Mentoring youth extremely rewarding

Mentoring can be a great thing to get involved in, for kids from all walks of life. Age differences in young people can sometimes separate them from spending time with one another, but youth mentoring bridges the gap and has life-enhancing benefits for both younger and older kids.

There are many places where young people are able to take on mentoring roles and have a connection with younger generations. These can include anything from tutoring to guidance inside and outside of school. If there is an opportunity for children to gain some experience or guidance from another young person or a mentoring group, I highly recommend they take it.

Forming relationships with youth mentors is a great way to adopt a supportive figure that can give advice on life experiences with a different outlook. It can enhance attitudes, help make better lifestyle choices, and improve self-esteem for young people, by creating relationships with others who are able to relate to and understand their issues and needs. These youth mentor relationships often give young people a connection where they may be more likely to open up with a mentor who becomes a trustworthy confidant. Youth often resonate better with youth, so mentoring and tutoring among young people works well and definitely has evident results.

Youth mentoring can improve interpersonal skills within young people, as they are prone to learning from what they see. If a young person is branching out and extending kindness and empathy to younger kids, this will often reflect in the ways that their mentees treat others. Mentees can also learn interpersonal skills through their mentors who have recently been through school themselves and who can coach the younger kids through difficult situations which they have already overcome. The advice that youth mentors share can be great for young people as they can find a common ground and interpret familiar ideas and struggles together.

Studies have shown that a lot of young people experience positive behavioural changes from spending time with older youth, and being involved in mentoring programmes. Relationships between youth who are not too far apart in age can result in the mentors becoming role-models and guides who show the right attitude. It is easy for youth to adopt the behaviours and viewpoints of those around them, and having a mentor who can point them in the right direction is a great way to learn. The transition into adulthood can be tough for some, but mentoring creates a dynamic for a relationship of trust, understanding and confidence between the two young people. Youth mentors provide a safe space for kids to reach their potential and make impactful changes in their lives.

Mentors also gain immense benefits from choosing to spend their time with younger people. Mentoring provides a sense of leadership, responsibility and fulfillment to those who get involved. While young people who are mentored can see changes in their self-esteem, the mentors themselves can also develop a better sense of self throughout their time helping younger children flourish. Being a part of a child's accomplishments and growth provides mentors with purposeful and rewarding work. Many mentors develop a brother or sister-like relationship with their mentees, and each can have a lasting impact on each other's lives. Young people can learn things from each other that they wouldn’t learn anywhere else, so giving youth the opportunity to get involved in some sort of mentoring or tutoring programme will develop important life skills and broaden their horizons.

Some of the mentoring programmes on the Shore that I have had personal experience with are:

NumberWorks’nWords - which I have been a tutor for myself in the past. I loved connecting with younger people, sharing my experiences with them, and helping aid them through their schooling. This particular place caters to kids who want help with maths and English, and involves weekly sessions after school where they can get to know the tutors and learn skills to help them inside and outside of school.

Youthline Mentoring - is a service that pairs up young adults with younger people to provide a safe space for advice, help with finding jobs, passing driving tests, or even just to catch up for a chat if needed. I used this programme myself when I was in year 11, and my mentor was fabulous. I definitely felt more confident and it was great to get some guidance from her whenever I needed it. She was just a text away and often met me for coffee when she was nearby.

There are many other mentoring and youth tutoring options on the Shore, it’s just a matter of a quick Google search to find one that best suits you or your child. I highly recommend getting involved in a service such as these ones, or if you are a young person reading this and would like to be a mentor yourself - just give it a go!