About The Children's Society mentoring initiative
The Children's Society believes that every child deserves a good childhood which is why we have developed an opportunity to bring children and young people together with positive role models.
Mentoring has been proven to give children and young people the confidence and skills they need to find their path, achieve goals and deal with life’s challenges.
Through ongoing research and evaluation, The Children’s Society intends to replicate this work in local communities across the UK in partnership with schools and other agencies.
The initiative is currently operating in three London local authorities – Greenwich, Tower Hamlets and Hackney (Diocese of London), with another set to open in Nottingham shortly.
Job Opportunity- Senior Project Worker, Nottingham
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What are the benefits of mentoring?
Young people face social exclusion for many reasons such as low self-esteem, shyness, bullying, poverty, language barriers, and racism. A mentor serves as a trusted, independent person who makes time to chat, listen and be a friend outside the home and school.
To get the best start in life, mentoring can help young people play a fuller part in society and prepare them for a better future.
Research shows mentoring has many positive benefits for children and young people:
- 52% less likely to skip school
- 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
- 27% less likely to begin using alcohol
- Mentored children and young people are more likely to get along with their families and peers
- Young people are less likely to self harm when they have someone to talk to and listen to them
- Mentoring helps young people to talk about their problems, realise their potential and also plays a key preventative role in moving them away from engaging in antisocial, unsafe and risky behaviours that can be detrimental to their lives
- Mentoring helps young people develop life skills, social skills etc, amongst many
- Communities as a whole benefit as people engage in volunteering and interact more with one another and also help tackle problems faced by the community
