Location: 

Various locations across York. 

Location of mentoring sessions will be agreed in advance between the one-to-one volunteer mentor, their mentee and their allocated Island Mentor Supervisor.

Time Commitment: 

26-52 sessions at 1-3 hours per week 

• During term time, session times may vary but will mostly take place either after school, weekday early evenings up until 9pm.

• Out of term time sessions can take place weekday up until 9pm 

• Session dates and times will be mutually agreed in advance between the one-to-one volunteer mentor and their mentee 

• Sessions are flexible and will be tailored mutually around the one-to-one volunteer mentor’s and their mentee’s needs, including holidays, work and family commitments

Overview: 

The Island is a York-based charity that has over the last 15 years helped children and young people between the ages of 8 and 18 overcome challenges with their physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing through regular recreational mentoring provisions. Alongside their fully trained volunteer mentor, the one-to-one mentoring programme provides children and young people with the time and space they require to build positive thoughts and feelings about themselves so that they are better able to cope with future life challenges. 

About the role: 

A rewarding opportunity to support the positive development of vulnerable children and young people through mentoring in the community - helping them gain resilience and confidence. 

Responsibilities:

• Plan, arrange and participate in regular recreational activities with your mentee

• Develop an informal relationship with your mentee through dialogue, shared interests and activities

• Provide active listening, support and informed guidance. Any information that is of a serious nature must be reported to The Island immediately via the duty phone (this will be discussed in training)

• Meet and return your mentee to their home unless another agreement has been made.

• Write up a short weekly mentoring session report (template will be provided) 

• Attend a quarterly meeting with your Mentor Supervisor to discuss how the mentoring journey is going and to raise any concerns or if you require any additional training or support

• Submit travel and mentoring receipts after each session to be reimbursed (if you require the funds in advance, let us know and we’ll get this arranged) 

Requirements:

• An Enhanced DBS check* (we will finance this for all one-to-one volunteer mentors)

• Complete The Island’s one-to-one mentor training programme 

• Reliable, punctual with good organisational and communication skills

• Able to commit to supporting a child or young person for 52 sessions, ideally one session per week (if this doesn’t work for you but you would like to discuss an alternative commitment, then let us know)

• Based in York or nearby to York

Benefits:

• Full in-house training will be provided (to be done face-to-face and online)

• Access to additional accredited courses (free of charge) to improve your personal and professional development opportunities 

• Regular social meet ups with The Island team and other one-to-one volunteer mentors

• Gain experience in the charity and youth sector

• Travel and mentoring session expenses covered

Inclusion and diversity:

We are committed to inclusion and diversity and welcome volunteer applications from everyone regardless of disability (visible or invisible), race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity or veteran status.

Feedback from previous mentors:

• “I have gained an insight into the challenges of working with young people. It has been a rewarding experience which has taught me a lot. The experience also helped me to secure a teaching assistant role at a local school after a prolonged period of being unemployed.”

•“Mentoring has not just transformed my mentee’s life for the better, but also my own. The experience has improved my own interpersonal skills as well as given me the opportunity to try out new activities, many of which I would not have done on my own. Mentoring has made me more confident in my own abilities and I feel blessed to have been part of my mentee’s journey who has grown from a shy, isolated and reserved young person into a joyful and happy person who is now thriving at school.”

How to apply:

Email: To apply to become a volunteer mentor through The Island's electronic application form, click here.

Email, post or hand deliver: To apply to become a One-to-One Volunteer Mentor, click here to download an application form.  

If you have any questions, then please get in touch here.

*Disclaimer: we can accept applications for prospective volunteer mentors with certain past convictions, cautions, final warnings and reprimands. We are compliant with the disclosure and barring system requirements and process and will act accordingly in individual circumstances. Please contact us to discuss any past activity and we’ll be able to provide further information if we could proceed with a formal application. Thank you.