Mentors
One simple idea that gives one young person the opportunity to thrive. One regular conversation, one hour a month, one life changed.
Become a trained mentor – help a young person reach their potential
If you’re working or retired, have five years general working experience or two years post-graduate working experience, you can mentor with us.
All we’ll ask you to do is complete online training and an online workshop, and then commit one hour, once a month, for up to a year.
So what’s in it for our mentors? That’s simple – you’ll have the chance to use your experience and skills to help change a young person’s life.
You’ll be giving something back that will really make a difference and 1MM will be with you every step of the way to support you while you do it.
“You can cross cultural divides that another type of relationship can’t. My mentee is a young Muslim woman, and I’m a white older man. And yet I’ve been able to share my knowledge and understand her ambitions and tap into those. And there can’t be many things that cross that many divides. When else would I be able to sit down with someone from a completely different age group, gender, and religion?”
Mentor, Jon Rouse
Former CEO, GM Health & Social Care Partnership
Share a lifetime of experience
If you’re retired, with a lifetime of skills to share, you can use them to inspire young people.
All we’ll ask you to do is complete online training and an online workshop, and then commit one hour, once a month, for up to a year.
So what’s in it for our mentors? The experience and expertise you’ve gained throughout your career is valuable to young people at the start of theirs.
You’ll be giving something back that will really make a difference and 1MM will be with you every step of the way to support you while you do.
“It’s exciting and scary. It pushes you to do things when you think I’d rather stay in bed or watch telly. It’s stimulating. It probably does more for a mentor like me than it does for the kids that you speak to. You’re doing a service for the retired people as well. It’s a two-way thing. It’s brilliant for both mentor and mentee.”
Mentor, Caroline, 74, Manchester
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any payments to mentors for their time?
How long does the training take?
From signing up to meeting your mentee will take 4-6 weeks.
To become a 1MM mentor, you’ll need to complete our online training, lasting 1 to 2 hours, and generally completed in 14 days. Don’t worry, your progress is saved so you can do it whenever it suits you. Our mentor development package also includes a mentor workshop which lasts 2.5 hours.
Sounds like a big commitment? It is, but time spent developing essential mentor skills will make you an effective mentor and that’s important. A few hours invested now will help a young person for the rest of their life.
What if I am not selected for a mentor match opportunity?
Don’t be discouraged. The numbers of young people signing up are increasing month on month. We might not be able to find the right match for your skills just now, but you could well be the best match for the next young person that joins us.
We thank you for your patience, and we will continue the search for an appropriate match.
What if my mentee and I do not ‘click’ on a personal level?
Give it time. Often connections get stronger as people get to know one another, but if by the third session you still feel it’s not working, please reach out to us for advice.
You can find more tips on what makes a good mentoring relationship here.
What if my mentee makes a disclosure?
If your mentee discloses current child abuse, or is in danger of harming themselves or others, you must tell the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Mentoring Coordinator at the relevant institution, or in the absence of a Youth Partner, you should contact 1MM’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
We have a comprehensive section on safeguarding in Level 1 training. For more information on safeguarding please click here.
How long is a typical mentoring relationship?
The longer your relationship, the more meaningful and productive it’s likely to be.
We encourage mentors to meet for one hour, once a month, for up to a year, although shorter mentoring periods are possible.
What do I do if my mentee buys me a gift, or I want to treat my mentee?
From time to time, mentors may be offered a gift from their mentee, or want to treat them to a gift as a reward. As well as small gifts, this can also take the form of food, drink and entertainment. Please see our full mentor gifts and hospitality policy which covers how to handles this whilst staying compliant with both the UK bribery Act 2010 and 1MM’s commitment to safeguarding.
Can I communicate with my mentee outside of our mentoring sessions?
If your mentee is aged 18 years and above, and they agree to sharing their contact details, you can communicate via email or a professional social media platform such as LinkedIn or Twitter. If your mentee is under the age of 18, you must communicate via the Mentoring Coordinator at their institution.
Where can I meet my mentee?
- If your mentee is under 18 years old, all meetings must be arranged via the Youth Partner and take place onsite.
- If the Youth Partner is facilitating virtual sessions for under 18’s, mentees must be onsite during the call
- If your mentee is over 18, meetings can take place anywhere but we strongly recommend meeting in public places (e.g. coffee shops, university campus’s, employers office ect.)
What should I do if I find a problem with the website?
If you have any technical issues using our website, email us at enquiries@1MM.org.uk and we’ll fix it as quickly as we can.
As a Mentor am I acting as an 'Agent' for 1MM or am I acting as an individual?
Mentors are volunteers who provide valuable guidance, solutions and advice to mentees wanting to achieve specific goals, operating subject to and within our safeguarding policies – detailed here. As a mentor, you would be acting as an individual volunteer and not as an agent of 1MM, the latter being a more legally stringent role and would include powers to bind on behalf of the organisation which you, as a volunteer, do not have. 1MM has a framework and guidance within our online training, workshops and various tools & resources, which are designed to assist both mentors and mentees make the most of their mentoring sessions.
What protection, legal support and support with costs does 1MM provide to Mentors in the event of legal action being brought by a Mentee?
1MM does not expect there to be any costs incurred during the mentoring process other than those for connecting online or, where in-person meetings take place, for some travel and/or light refreshments. Given we are a non-profit organisation, unfortunately 1MM is unable to contribute to such costs.
In the event of any safeguarding or legal issue that may arise, it is essential that the mentor and mentee raise this with 1MM so that we can assess the situation and follow up as needed. 1MM does not provide nor guarantee any specific legal or financial support to its volunteers but may refer matters to appropriate authorities where required.