Our Mission Statement: “Strive to enable mentees to achieve their full potential and gain confidence to take control of their pathway, through providing guidance, support, and encouragement from mentors that are of similar age or with similar shared experience in a safe and understanding environment”.

The Peer Mentoring Project supports and trains young people aged 16-25 to become peer mentors to provide support and guidance for 14-21 year olds, to identify, set and work towards a series of goals important to them. The mentors and mentees are matched together based on sharing similar backgrounds, experiences and interests. The young people build a meaningful and trusting relationship to support the mentee in developing a positive pathway.

Mentor Recruitment

Interested in becoming a Peer Mentor and providing some guidance and encouragement for another young person? We have no daunting interview process, just get in touch and we'll have a conversation. If you're definitely up for it then we can start your training.

The training process involves either a 1 day or 2 half day sessions learning the theory of mentoring practices, boundaries while volunteering and practising mentoring skills.

Process for becoming a mentor

  1. Cuppa and chat with the Development Worker
  2. Filling out forms with the Development Worker
  3. You complete the Mentoring Induction Training with the Development Worker.
  4. The Development Worker will use your forms to match you with your Mentee.
  5. You, the Mentee and the development worker will meet to chat and see if everyone is happy to proceed, then everyone will fill in a Mentoring Agreement (looking at when to meet, how often, at what time etc. as well as boundaries for the relationship).
  6. You start having your mentoring sessions
    1. Meet with development worker 30 mins before the session to plan and prepare for the session
    2. Meet with the mentee
    3. meet with development worker to evaluate the session and plan for the next

Mentee recruitment

looking for some support from another young person who has gone through the same issues as you? Just want some help with something going on in your life? Why not join our project and get matched with a Peer Mentor?

Mentoring focuses on a goals based approach so your mentor could help you set and work towards some goals that you want to work towards.

Process for joining

  1. Cuppa and chat with Mentoring Coordinator
  2. Filling out forms with Mentoring Coordinator
  3. Mentoring coordinator will use your forms to match you with your Mentor
  4. You, the Mentor and the development worker will meet to chat and see if everyone is happy to proceed, then everyone will fill in a Mentoring Agreement (looking at when to meet, how often, at what time etc. as well as boundaries for the relationship).
  5. You start having your mentoring sessions!

If you would like to join our team, or would just like to have a chat about the opportunity give Wayne a shout:

OPEN Shetland

OPEN Shetland

✉ Wayne.Leask@shetland.org

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a Peer Mentor?

    A Mentor is a young person aged 16-25 who motivates, guides and supports a young mentee aged 14-21. A Mentor helps young people identify and work towards achieving their goals. Peer Mentors are someone who shares a similar background or connection (e.g. care experienced, at risk of exclusion) with someone of a similar age.

  • What is the Purpose of mentoring and why are mentors needed?

    Some young people need some extra support and guidance from a positive and trustworthy role model; our mentors provide help and support to these young people.

    The one thing that all young people we work with have in common is low self-esteem. By spending time with them to discover activities and new skills, and identifying strengths they already have, we can really help them to become resilient, and improve and achieve in many areas of their lives.

  • What does a mentor do?

    Each Mentor is matched with a young person that they have something in common with, perhaps a shared interest. The first couple of weeks will be about building up a trusting relationship; this gives the mentor the opportunity to find out more about the young person which will help them later to identify the goals they would like to achieve over the mentoring relationship.

    Each young person has individual needs so the support you will offer will vary, and their goals will be just as varied. Mentee goals can be on anything, something as simple as just needing someone to speak with regularly, improving their confidence, looking into future planning and what they would like to do etc.

  • How much time do i need to give and when will i be required?

    The minimum requirement for being a Peer Mentor is a 1 hour meeting every week or fortnight (depending on the agreement with you and your mentee) over a period of 6 months to a year, plus communicating with the staff and your Mentee around organising meeting. You will not be expected to spend lots of time communicating between meetings. You may be needed to meet during the day or evening but it is always at a convenient time for yourself and the mentee.

    You will also be expected to complete the Induction Training (10-12 hours) which will give you all the knowledge and tools to be a mentor.

  • How much will it cost me?

    Nothing other than your time. We will reimburse all authorised expenses including travel.

  • How do you match me with a young person and what is the process?

    The matching process is taken very seriously by the Mentoring Coordinator and you will be carefully matched with a young person with whom you will have at least one shared common interest.

    As part of your introductory meetings with staff we ask you to complete a form sharing your hobbies, interests, geography, skills and personal wishes and feelings so we can accurately match you with the best person to make the most out of your mentoring relationship.

  • How will i know what to do and what not to do?

    Dont worry, full training is provided totalling 10-12 hours. There is regular meetings with the Mentoring coordinator that you can discuss any concerns you have. A mentoring handbook is also provided that covers the role of a mentor, policies and procedures, safeguarding, as well as useful information about how to carry out your role.

  • What if i need help?

    The Mentoring coordinator will always be in the building to help you with any concerns or issues that come up.

    You will also have a minimum of 2x 1:1 support and supervision sessions with the Mentoring Coordinator per year where you can bring up any concerns. These 1:1's can be more regular with requests if ever you need them.

    There will be 2 informal meetings per year with other mentors where you can meet and share experiences.

  • What if i dont get on with the young person?

    Don't worry, this rarely happens. You will be matched with the young person you are mentoring so the likely hood is reduced. However, if it does happen speak with the Mentoring Coordinator and they will meet with you and the mentee for a mediation meeting to see if this is something that can be overcome. If it is an issue that cannot be overcome then we will end the relationship, and you will be re-matched with another mentee at the discretion of the Mentoring Coordinator.

  • Do i need a Disclosure Scotland Check or any other background checks?

    Yes. All volunteers are required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check, sometimes known as a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check. We don't ask for any other background checks.

  • How do i apply?

    Our application process is really easy:

    1. Get in touch in any way you like (phone, email, message our social media)

    2. Chat with our Mentoring Coordinator over a cuppa about what it all entails

    3. Complete the Application form (the Mentoring Coordinator can help you do this)

    And thats it!