Effective Mentoring for Volunteers

Introduction

This page describes the rationale and philosophy behind the Life Change UK Volunteer Mentor Training Programme.

The Programme: -

· Ensures the highest quality of trained mentors

· Ensures consistency in training

· Contributes to individual Continued Professional Development (CPD)

· Raises the wider standards of Mentoring and Coaching

Overarching Principles

At Life Change UK, we believe that everyone has worth, value and a capacity to change. We believe in the dignity of every individual and the importance of valuing human relationships, trust, respect and integrity.

To achieve maximum well-being and integration everything must function at its best. Holistic rehabilitation is an approach to life that considers a person's physical, emotional and mental parts; the whole person is constantly interacting with everything else in their surrounding environment. Life Change UK believes in enriching the lives of those with whom we work. Mentoring and coaching are part of that process.

This holistic approach empowers the individual, enabling them to achieve goals and outcomes previously believed to be unattainable. Individuals are encouraged to celebrate their life and their achievements and acknowledge their unique individuality through congruent respectful relationships that encourage self-acceptance.

This is an ongoing process requiring personal commitment. Temporary setbacks are viewed as just that. However, with mentors providing positive reinforcement of achievements and acknowledgment that mistakes will be made and learnt from, challenges can and will be overcome.

Why Mentoring

Mentoring is a matching of individuals in the development of positive, meaningful relationships. It offers guidance, encouragement and support in order to raise the aspirations of individuals in their ability to succeed and change.

Over the past decade, mentoring programmes have received considerable attention as a promising and effective approach to enriching the lives of young people, addressing the need for positive adult intervention and for providing support on a one to one basis for those who need it.

There are many reasons why young people present in a challenging way, turn to crime, are disruptive and uncommunicative. The lack of self-confidence, low self-esteem and the absence of positive adult role models are major contributing factors. A mentoring relationship entered into voluntarily will give time in a non-judgmental and congruent way, where an individual's thoughts and opinions are heard and respected. Many young people, particularly young offenders, do not expect to be treated with respect, consequently they rarely show respect for others. A positive relationship with a volunteer adult or peer, who takes the time to be interested, can overcome the communication and relationship barriers, empowering the young person, instilling feelings of self-worth, confidence and personal belief.

Life Change UK's Volunteer Mentor training has two phases: -

Phase one - An intensive two-day programme, providing participants with a clear understanding of the skills and competencies required to sustain a positive and successful mentor relationship.

Phase two - After 3 months, a further days training incorporating: -

· Group discussion

· Case studies

· Sharing of good practice

· Feedback

· Tutorials

· The handing in of a personal reflective learning journal for assessment

As well as forming part of the overall assessment, the learning journal has a number of other purposes. It enables the mentor to: -

· Reflect on how they learn, the content of their learning and their own practice

· Identify individual strategies and thought processes to help improve practice and demonstrate examples of good practice

· Describe how they incorporate their learning in the mentor relationship

· Describe how they incorporate their learning in their home and work relationships

· Assist with self-supervision and self evaluation (asking questions of oneself relative to their effectiveness)

· Assist with supervision with their supervisor (outreach worker)

· Forms part of the overall assessment of the course

Course Outline

The purpose of the course is to provide volunteers with: -

· A background to mentoring

· A basic framework for conducting a mentoring relationship

· The opportunity to develop new skills and competencies that will contribute towards their own continuous professional development

· The opportunity to further develop existing skills and competencies

· Understand the function of mentoring and the part it plays in working with ex-offenders and those who present in a challenging way

· To support, guide and encourage delegates in developing their mentoring skills

· The ability to make a personal assessment of their own suitability to the role of mentor

· The ability to identify further personal training and development needs

Course Units

Unit one - What is a mentor?

Unit two - Issues facing young people

Unit three - Effective Communication (Part one)

Unit four - Effective Communication (Part two)

Unit five - Building relationships

Unit six - Boundaries

Unit seven - Prejudice and Discrimination

Unit eight - Developing effective practice

If you would like to discuss this training in more detail, please do call us. We are keen to ensure that we meet your needs and those of your mentors and mentees.