What is Mentoring?

Mentors guide, motivate, encourage and inspire. The Home Office says:

"Mentoring is a one-to-one, non-judgemental relationship in which an individual mentor voluntarily gives time to support and encourage another. This relationship is typically developed at a time of transition in the mentee’s life, and lasts for a significant and sustained period."

What will be expected from me?

You are not expected to be a counsellor, a doctor or an expert on mental health problems. But you will need to be resourceful and able to empower your mentee to take positive steps to support their recovery. You must also be committed, patient, reliable and open minded.

The relationship you forge with your mentee may be very informal. You could take on a befriending role – visiting museums, chatting over coffee and helping them to feel less isolated.

Or your relationship could be more formal and structured and you may find yourself offering professional support and assistance with specific goals, such as helping your mentee to find a job. Most relationships are a mixture of these.

What training and support will I receive?

You will undergo training in mentoring skills and mental health awareness. This will equip you with all the confidence and knowledge you need before you are matched with your mentee. Once you have been matched there will be opportunities to get together with other mentees and mentors to share experiences.

Mentees also receive an induction to the project to manage their expectations and explain the aims and objectives of the project. The Back to Life staff support and guide mentors and mentees throughout their mentoring relationship.

How do you match mentors and mentees?

You will provide information about your interests and expectations of the project. We will then give this information to the mentees who will choose who they would prefer to be their mentor. We do understand that some matches just don’t work so we have a procedure in place to deal with the situation if you’re not happy with your match.

Do I need to have a criminal records check?

Yes. People who have treatment for mental illness are judged to be vulnerable adults by government policy (although this is not something they consider themselves to be). Therefore people spending time with a vulnerable adult need to have a Criminal Records Bureau check. All mentees also undergo a risk assessment before starting the mentoring programme.

If you would like to be a mentor, register here.