£15,000 grant helps launch new peer mentoring scheme for young people

A new peer mentoring scheme to help vulnerable young adults set up their first home is being set up in North Norfolk and Broadland – with the support of a £15,000 grant from Victory Housing Trust.

Now community organisation Your Own Place, which is running the scheme, is appealing for mentors to come forward and take part in the scheme.

Aimed at young people aged 17+ who are coming from unsettled backgrounds such as a care environment or homelessness, the new scheme aims to give transitional support and advice to help them settle into independent living.  The new scheme will run alongside Your Own Place’s existing Tenancy & Independent Living Skills training.

“Support for vulnerable young people tends to drop away rapidly once they reach the age of 18, leaving them unsupported just at the stage when they need to be setting themselves up to live independently,” said Your Own Place director Rebecca White.

“Our project aims to pair them up with peer mentors, who might be young adults who have been through the same kind of situation, or more mature people who feel they can offer support.

“As well as being a vital resource for the mentees, mentoring can bring significant benefits for the mentors as well.  They will receive training and support from the scheme which will equip them with many transferable skills for their own futures, and doing something like this is a very positive thing to have on your CV - as well as being rewarding in its own right.”

Mentors offer their support, and encourage mentees through their own experiences.  They are not counsellors, but support the mentee to look at the pros and cons of situations, weigh up the consequences of decisions, and answer questions.

Mentors receive two days training, plus a further optional two days accredited ‘Money Mentors’ training, all at no cost.  Travel expenses are reimbursed, and certificates for training issued.

“Mentors need to be good at listening, and prepared to act as critical friends,” said Rebecca White.  “They need people skills and empathy, be non-judgemental and friendly and warm.”

Victory Housing Trust has funded the new scheme to the tune of £15,000 from its Strategic Community Fund.  Head of housing Christine Candlish said, “Being in settled accommodation is a vital first step to independent living, and it is often the hardest barrier for young people coming from backgrounds such as care.

“Your Own Place has a good track record in helping young adults build a strong foundation for a settled and sustainable future, and we felt that this project would bring significant benefits, not just to the young people involved, but also to the mentors and the wider community.”

Anyone interested in becoming a mentor can find more details at www.yourownplace.org.uk/peer-mentoring-support, or by contacting Rebecca White on 07530 028446 or at rebecca@yourownplace.org.uk.  The next round of mentor training will take place in March.