Esteem

Become a Mentor

Volunteer as a Mentor with Esteem

Want to make a difference and have a bit of fun along the way?

At Esteem, we believe every young adult should have a space where they feel accepted, supported, and free to be exactly who they are. That’s where you come in.

We’re on the lookout for volunteer mentors to support young adults aged 14 – 26, and we’re especially keen to hear from creative, compassionate people from all walks of life.

If you’re someone who can show up, listen well, and be a steady presence in a young adult’s life, mentoring at Esteem could be just the thing for you.

So, What is a Mentor?

Good question! A mentor is a trusted adult, someone who offers support, encouragement, and a friendly ear. You’re not there to “fix” anything or give all the answers. You’re there to walk alongside a young adult as they figure things out for themselves.

That might mean chatting over coffee, going for walks, setting goals together, or just checking in regularly and being a consistent person in their corner.

Why it Matters?

Young adulthood can be a tricky time, full of big questions, changes, and new challenges. At Esteem, young adults lead the way in everything we do. Your role as a mentor is to support them in discovering who they are, what they want, and where they’re going at their pace, in their way.

We’re built on three core values:

Trust – We believe in each other. Everyone deserves a chance to take the lead.

Support – When we lift each other up, we all grow.

Respect – Everyone belongs.

What Makes a Good Mentor?

 

You definitely don’t need to be a superhero or have it all figured out.

You might be a great mentor if:

👂🏽 You’re a good listener.

🧠 You’re open-minded and non-judgmental.

🎉 You can celebrate small wins as much as big ones.

✌🏽 You’re happy to let someone else take the lead.

🌞 You genuinely care about young adults feeling seen, heard, and valued.

 

🖌️ 🎹 📸 We’re particualrly looking for mentors with a creative streak. if you have a creative practice or work in a creative industry such as music, art, film, writing, coding, cooking, or crafting, we’d love to hear from you. 

What’s in it For You?

Mentoring isn’t just about giving, it’s about growing too.

Here’s what you might gain:

Mentor Training and Support

🔗 A meaningful connection with a young adult.

💡 New perspectives and fresh ideas (seriously, young adults are brilliant).

📝 New skills in communication, empathy, and leadership.

🌈 That feel-good buzz of making a real difference in someone’s life.

Most of our mentors say they learn just as much from the experience as their mentees do sometimes more!

5 people holding a string together

How to get involved?

Our mentoring programme will re-open to new volunteers in January.

In the meantime you can still state your interested.

Below are our two mentoring strands:

Creative Mentors – New Programme!

Help young adults start their creative journey.

You will support a young person to start and complete  a creative project they care about.

This is open to creatives of every kind, from cooks to game designers, we want to hear from you!

(6 Sessions, Over 3 months)

Community Mentors

Work with a young adult to help them achieve their goals.

That might mean chatting over coffee, going for walks, setting goals together, or just checking in regularly and being a consistent person in their corner.

Research shows having a trusted adult to talk to can dramatically improve a young adults life. *

*Frederick et al. (2023), Supportive Relationships with Trusted Adults for Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Adversities: A Scoping Review
https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/53/6/3129/7091809 

Ready to Get Involved? 📲

Get in touch with Michelle for a chat!

michelle.perry@esteem.org.uk

Michelle

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https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=447401320279&text&type=phone_number&app_absent=0

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