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What is Mentoring?
A helping relationship where one or more positive experienced person(s)helps and supports another uncoditionally.
What is a Mentor?
A positive experienced person who gives non-judgemental encouragement,help, advice and guidance.
The mentoring initiative started in 1999. It was introduced through schools and the first school to use this service was the Priory Secondary School in Hitchin, Herts.
The selection criteria was:
* Young Men from years 7,8 and 9
* Mixed heritage or African - Caribean
* Under achievers, Disengaged, On the verge of Exclusion
* A group of ten young men
Duration of project was initially two hours a week for two terms, however it continued for 18 months.
There was only one exclusion within the 18 months mentoring session therefore the project had a 90% success.
Mentees felt that the one to one and group basketball mentoring was beneficial to their self esteem and helped to change their mindset.
Mentor - Ashley Goldson 'my concern about mentoring is that it is misunderstood due to the many different interpretations on mentoring.
A mentor is not a teacher.
A a mentor is a person who tries to find out what makes the mentee 'tick' so he/she can help them to engage with the educational process and learn how to become a successful learner.'
'By asking a set of open questions i have devised throughout the mentoring programme or through sport the young people can see success is possible, if a young person cannot see the need we will not succeed.'
The programme is a progressive one so consistency is vital for the young person to achieve. Dipping in and out of the mentoring session can sometimes slow down the learning process.
The selection criteria can be intrepreted to fit within a particular school and their individuals needs/problems.
Since then the following schools have used this service:
Oughton Head Primary School, Hitchin, Herts
Tring School, Watford, Herts
Hertswood School, Watford, Herts
Bushey Hall, Watford, Herts
Rickmansworth,Watford, Herts
Mary Exton Primary School, Hitchin, Herts
The John Henry Newman RC School, Stevenage, Herts
Highfield Secondary School,Letchworth, Herts
Thomas Alleynes Secondary School, Stevenage, Herts
Conclusion
Mentoring whether its in class or through sport is a great way to engage young people.
Having a positive role model with who you can relate is a benefit to any young person who is on the mentoring programme.
Mentoring allows the young person to self examine, self access and changes their mindset so that they can start to see for themselves that there is more to life than they ever imagined.
This allows them to become responsible for their own actions.They can take these transferrable skills back into their community, school or home for a more successful life.
For a successful result consistency is paramount!!
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