Mentoring Programme for Young Carers
We believe every young carer deserves opportunities to thrive, grow healthy and confident. Youth mentoring is the practice of being safely guided by a trusted person with a set of qualities and experience, using tools and techniques to support an individual in the progression and achievement of chosen goals and targets.
Our mentoring programme has grown incredibly popular, and we have worked very hard to secure additional funding to upscale it and support higher numbers of young carers with access to a better-quality support programme.
What is it?
A school-based model of personalised peer mentoring and subsequent engagement in group activity, or specialist group mentoring, to support young carers 8–24 who live in Barnet. It is delivered Barnet Young Carers and funded by the Greater London Authority.
How it works?
Qualified mentors, some of whom are young adult carers, are recruited, trained and matched to referred mentees, who will meet them at their schools, colleges or universities and deliver eight sessions of individual and bespoke mentoring support. The
sessions are structured to address areas such as confidence building, encouraging integration into activities and social groups, addressing challenges in school or addressing matters relating to the caring role or home life. Restricted online mentoring will only be available if in-person sessions are not possible.
What happens after that?
Young carers who would want to progress with further intervention would be able to access more specialist mentoring support through participation in group mentoring and activities. Longer term support will be available via the Barnet Young Carers team and through our partner organisations.
What outcomes are young carers expected to achieve?
Improved self-confidence and self-worth. Young carers will be better able to recognise the positive sides, knowledge and skills gained from their caring experience and put this into practice to support their wellbeing. Young carers will feel more empower about asking for help and taking part in opportunities available to them to improve their social confidence and expand their network of support. Young carers will grow emotionally stronger to cope with emotions and daily demands.
What happens after that?
If your school or educational setting is interested in having young carers supported
through this intervention or want to receive more information about it, please fill out the ‘Expression of interest form’ here. One of our team will contact you to discuss the referral process and the programme further.
“We have just started a bi weekly session with at Woodcroft School. It is absolutely brilliant. We have 12 children already involved and looks like it could be increasing.
It is for one hour in school time. The children are loving the experience and it really does make them feel special”
“Mentoring has helped me to feel more at ease with some of the pressures I have to dealt with at home and school. It’s helped me seeing things in a different light and believe more in what I can achieve.”
“We are very grateful for the mentoring sessions my son received as well as all the other activities for young carers. The young carers programme is amazing! Thank you very much!”
contact us
Monday to Friday: 9am - 4:30pm
Address
Barnet Young Carers
Global House, 303 Ballards Lane
N12 8NP
Phone
0203 995 1909