 Today I was reflecting on the lack of support for grassroots youth mentoring organisations. It's a critical issue that demands attention.
The organisations I've connected and worked with during my career as a youth mentor work tirelessly to provide mentoring and support to young people in their communities, but they often face significant challenges due to limited resources and recognition. The consequences of key stakeholders neglecting these organisations are severe. Without access to proper training, best practices, and funding, grassroots youth mentoring organisations struggle to provide the high-quality, evidence-based mentoring that young people need to navigate life's challenges and reach their full potential. This inadequate support can also be seen in low quality screening and training mentors, potentially exposing young people to harm or disappointment. And, when these organisations operate with limited capacity, they may be unable to reach all the young people in their communities who could benefit from a skilled youth mentor. We, they are simple isolated from sound training, resources and 'know how', that enhance our practice and allow our work to reflect the passion and commitment we have to supporting youth progression. The isolation of grassroots youth mentoring organisations can also hinder their ability to collaborate and learn from each other, limiting their collective impact. This lack of connection can make it difficult for them to advocate for the importance of youth mentoring and why it should be seen as a practice, leaving policymakers and funders unaware of the wider critical role 'youth mentoring' play in promoting youth development and community well-being. In the worst-case scenario, chronic under-support can force grassroots youth mentoring organisations to close their doors, leaving countless young people without access to the mentors they need to thrive. However, this narrative can be changed by ensuring that grassroots youth mentoring organisations receive the support they need to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. Here at The Mentoring Lab we are working to fill the gaps left by the closure of the associations such as the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, by providing evidence based practices, evidenced based resources, quality standards and networking opportunities to empower grassroots youth mentoring organisations. To achieve this goal, a collective effort from policymakers, funders, community leaders, and citizens is necessary. Advocating for policies and funding streams that support grassroots youth mentoring organisations, upskilling of youth mentor practitioners, improved volunteer training opportunities and amplified voices from key talents and ex mentees to help these organisations thrive, and recognising the incredible impact that a youth mentor can have on a young person's life. Investing in the success of grassroots youth mentoring organisations is an investment in the future of our communities and the well-being of the next generation. It's not just me speaking about this issue, below are relevant studies and reports that highlight the importance and challenges found be youth mentoring organisations in seeking support for delivering youth mentoring projects:
By upskilling 'mentoring' to become a practice, we are pooling our knowledge, experience, and resources to working together to improve youth mentoring across the country. We can ensure that every young person has access to high quality youth mentoring to navigate life's challenges and achieve their dreams. Elaine Isadora Thomas, The Mentoring Lab Community Founder, Ceo.
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 The closure of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF) in 2016 left a significant void in the support available to youth mentoring organisations across England. The MBF played a crucial role in providing resources, training, and best practice guidance to these niche organisations, as well as offering a quality standard accreditation, the Approved Provider Standard (APS), which recognised those meeting best practices in mentoring and befriending.
In addition to these tangible benefits, the MBF also served as a powerful advocate for the importance of mentoring and befriending, raising awareness about the positive impact of these programs on youth and communities. The foundation facilitated networking and knowledge-sharing among mentoring and befriending organisations, fostering a sense of collaboration and support within the sector. With the MBF no longer in operation, youth mentoring organisations have been left without a centralized resource hub, a nationally recognised quality standard accreditation, and a strong advocate for their cause. The absence of the MBF has also led to fewer opportunities for networking, collaboration and raising standards among these organisations, potentially hindering their growth, effectiveness and ability to make tangible impact on young people's lives, especially those most in need of mentoring to increase their quality and outcome of life. At The Mentoring Lab, we are well-positioned to fill the gaps left by the closure of the MBF. With a comprehensive resource library at hand, engaging in advocacy efforts, providing frameworks and networking opportunities, we are also on the way to create a new quality standard accreditation program; all much-needed support and guidance that youth mentoring organisations need to thrive. One of the key initiatives The Mentoring Lab is to share our robust resource library that includes best practices, training materials, and guides tailored specifically to youth mentoring projects and organisations. This library would serve as a go-to destination for youth organisations seeking to improve their programs and align with sector standards. Furthermore, The Mentoring Lab seeks to create a new quality standard accreditation, in alignment with Umbrella Youth Organisations, to enable youth mentoring organisations stakeholders, especially funders to recognises organisations demonstrating excellence in youth mentoring practices. This accreditation would provide a benchmark for quality and help organisations to stand out in a competitive funding landscape. Advocacy is another area where The Mentoring Lab can make a significant impact. By raising awareness about the importance of youth mentoring and the positive outcomes these programs have on youth and communities, The Mentoring Lab can help to secure greater support and funding for grassroots and equity led youth mentoring organisations across England. Networking and collaboration are essential for the growth and success of mentoring organisations. The Mentoring Lab will facilitate this by organising regular networking events, webinars, and conferences, bringing together volunteers, youth practitioners and mentees from across the sector to share knowledge, best practices, and innovative ideas. Finally, The Mentoring Lab can offer research opportunities to help organisations improve their mentoring projects and services, ensuring they align with sound data, best practices and meet the needs of their target audiences. By sharing and conducting research that supports mentoring project evaluations, contributing to the evidence base value of mentoring initiatives. In conclusion, the closure of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation has left a significant gap in the support available to youth mentoring organisations in England. However, The Mentoring Lab has the potential to fill this void by providing resources, accreditation, advocacy, networking opportunities, and consultancy services. By stepping up to support these organisations, The Mentoring Lab can help ensure that youth mentoring continues to make a positive difference in the lives of young people across the country. |
AuthorElaine Isadora Thomas is the Founder and CEO of The Mentoring Lab. Raised by the Windrush community of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, Elaine is a trailblazer within the youth sector, championing equity-led approaches to improve the quality of youth mentoring to address the inequalities and barriers effecting the development and progression of black and marginalised youth. Archives
April 2024
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