A Mentor's Handbook for First-Time Volunteers

Becoming a mentor for the first time can feel daunting — you want to help, but you're not always sure what that looks like in practice. This handbook is written for exactly that moment: your first few sessions with a student.

It covers the basics of our mentorship model — what a typical session looks like, how often to meet, and the boundaries and safeguarding expectations every mentor agrees to before being matched with a student.

Beyond logistics, the guide focuses on the skill that matters most: listening well. Many of the students in our programme are navigating pressure at home, uncertainty about their next steps after school, or simply need one consistent adult who shows up. Mentors are not expected to solve every problem — just to be present, reliable and encouraging.

The handbook also includes practical guidance on setting goals with a student, recognising signs that a young person may need additional support beyond mentorship, and how to refer a concern to our programme team.

Every new mentor joining the programme receives this handbook as part of orientation, alongside an in-person briefing from our team.

Draft content — figures, quotes and dates on this page are placeholders for the programme team to review, verify and finalise before publishing.