Community appointments can provide a more natural, environment, where I am able to sit with young people and have a drink and a chat. More recently, due to the spring weather, we have been able to walk and enjoy natural surroundings during appointments, which can help to make the sessions feel more relaxed.
Mentoring in mainstream schools can work well, as schools often provide an area for young people to come and chat in a safe space, and talk about the diverse topics of school life, whilst receiving mentoring support.
We are lucky that Scarborough and North Yorkshire have several alternative provisions available to young people, and some I have worked in include Pupil Referral Service, Futureworks and Coast Tuition. Each of these provisions are different, but all of them seek to support young people to complete their education and gain GCSEs or equivalent. This can be a greatly beneficial opportunity for some young people I work with who have found mainstream school environments more challenging. Often alternative provisions provide much smaller, calmer settings and have 1:1 Case Workers which support young people in having their needs met and being able to remain in school. This can provide a helpful environment for my mentoring sessions with young people where I am able to provide the additional support they might need.
My work as a Change Direction Youth Mentor involves adapting to support young people no matter the environment. This involves listening and providing guidance which may in turn help them to return to mainstream education if this is the right path for them. Whatever the path, the aim is always to help the young person to reach their full potential, and it is lovely to hear about young peoples’ aspirations and to be able to support them in reaching these.
Hannah Marson, Change Direction Youth Mentor, Scarborough