How it works
1MM mentoring is based on a 'simple’ idea... matching adults who have navigated their own route out of education and into satisfying employment with young people who will benefit from that experience as they find their own path.
Our highly rated induction training equips mentors with a flexible and responsive approach that means each individual mentee can receive the encouragement and support they need to take their next step, whatever their background or current situation.
1MM’s bespoke platform is designed for the busy professional and provides a support framework – backed up by the 1MM Delivery Team - to enable all mentoring relationships to be as effective as possible.
1MM mentoring is for young people aged 14 to 25.
We work with a variety of Youth Partners – schools, colleges, universities, youth organisations, community projects - across that age range, to ensure programmes are directed to young people who would otherwise be unable to access such support. Many Employer Partners have a direct relationship with a specific youth partner local to them – adding extra value to all involved.
Youth partner programmes tend to be a blend of face-to-face and online mentoring sessions (hybrid programmes) but some are fully face-to-face or fully online. All operate to a fixed timetable agreed with the youth partner in advance: there is usually no scope to be flexible about where, how or when individual mentoring sessions take place.
We also connect young people aged 18 and over, who sign up independently, with a mentor for online mentoring. Mentors and mentees agree how and when they will connect with one another. This route therefore suits employers looking for a greater degree of flexibility for their colleagues’ volunteering.
It's a win-win!
Your guidance has not only empowered students with confidence and direction but has also reinforced the vital connection between education and professional success. This initiative highlights Grant Thornton’s leadership in fostering talent and driving social impact. We are profoundly grateful for your partnership and look forward to continuing this transformative journey together.
Once we have agreed to partner, 1MM will support you in the design and set up of your programme.
You will need to appoint a ‘Volunteer Coordinator’ who will be our main point of contact and work with us to establish and run the programme.
We will work with you to help you promote the opportunity to your colleagues and to recruit potential mentors to your programme.
We ask you to ensure all your mentors register on our platform and complete our initial training and onboarding process (including the profile questions that enable matching with a mentor whose experience and expertise matches their needs and goals) in good time.
Mentors allocated to a youth partner programme are expected to attend an induction session (onsite or online) where they will be introduced to their mentee for their first meeting, and to honour their commitment to meet where, when and as often as was agreed during the set-up phase.
Preliminary ‘ice-breaker’ sessions can also be arranged for an employer’s mentors and their mentees if required.
All sessions that include mentees under the age of 18 are enabled and supervised by our Youth Partner’s Volunteer Coordinator to ensure they offer a safe and secure environment for mentoring to take place.
Mentors supporting an independent mentee will agree with them when and how their first meeting will take place and take it from there – with both mentee and mentor needing to honour their commitment to one another.
