We improve young people’s lives through mentoring – delivering Group and 1-2-1 mentoring programmes. Our youth workers are specifically trained to mentor young people aged 9 to 18, having completed a CPD course in Youth Mentoring Training with the Mentoring Lab. All young people we mentor are referred to us by schools, health services, other agencies, or parents/guardians and young people themselves.
What Youth Mentoring is
A supportive relationship between the mentor and young person, offering guidance and advice, focused on personal growth and the opportunity for learning and development. Through discussions, and activities, young people’s skills are built upon and are also equipped with helpful tools they can use in school, their relationships, and life.
Most importantly mentoring is a voluntary process, young people choose to participate, allowing them to take an active role in shaping their own development.
What Youth Mentoring is not
Therapy or Counselling – Youth Mentors are not licensed therapists or counsellors, and do not replace clinical services.
Crisis or Trauma – Mentors are equipped to provide general guidance and support but are not trained to handle crisis situations or address trauma.
Specialist support – While mentoring can provide supportive guidance, mentors are not trained in specialised fields
Support for specific educational barriers – Mentoring does not provide the specialised intervention required to address complex educational challenges such as EBSA.
1-2-1 Mentoring Programme
We deliver bespoke 1-2-1 mentoring to young people aged 11 to 18 who either live, or attend a school in Didcot. We meet with the young person once a week for 1 hour over a minimum of six weeks. Typically this is facilitated within the young person’s school, though if the need arises we’re more then happy to arrange sessions at our base. Some of the areas we can support with are social and emotional difficulties, engaging in anti-social behaviour, and difficulties maintaining positive relationships.
Referrals for in-school mentoring are currently closed while we prioritise those already on our waiting list. We will reopen for new referrals in July 2026, ready for the next academic year.
Young people are still able to access the support of youth workers informally in within our youth clubs and open access provisions. Other local services you may wish to explore include Oxfordshire Mind, The Abingdon Bridge, the Targeted Youth Support Service, Oxfordshire Discovery College, One-Eighty, Be Free Young Carers and Iuventas Foundation.
Group Mentoring Programme
We deliver group mentoring to young people aged 9 to 18 in schools across Didcot. Each group has a maximum of eight young people. The group meets once a week for 1 hour over six consecutive weeks.
If you would like group mentoring at your school, please contact Georgina, who leads our mentoring programme.
georgina@trainyouth.org.uk
