Kickstart Mentoring Programme

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Mentee, Carl said: “Before I met my mentor I did not have much self-belief and I was always putting myself down, never doing anything with my ideas. Then I met my mentor and everything has changed as she helped my little idea turn into a part of my future and I now believe in myself a lot more. When it comes to my weekly meetings I get excited and look forward to doing it so I make sure I have all my notes and discuss them all. I don’t feel that it’s a boring meeting its more of a chilled meeting and we even have a 5/10 minute chat about our week and then get on with our project. I hope that this continues as I want people to have the same experience and knowledge I have been given.”
Mentee, Beth said: “I think mentoring has helped me with my self-confidence a lot. Gemma is easy to talk to and has given me lots of helpful advice about going out and maybe getting an apprenticeship.”
Mentor, Rob Woolston – RG+P said: “Sharing my knowledge and abilities with my mentee is very fulfilling, especially as you start to see that person develop on their own. As the sessions go on, this becomes more noticeable, which is very rewarding. I feel the biggest impact I have had so far is helping my mentee assess their strengths and weaknesses and provide direction towards employment and the development of their own business. We have worked together to develop their CV and portfolio and we will soon begin work on specific applications for employment. I had no experience of mentoring outside of my own discipline prior to this so was not sure what to expect when I first volunteered. The training Soft Touch provided really helped me in knowing what to expect and how to get the most out of the mentoring sessions. The continued support Soft Touch provides throughout the process in invaluable. I have really enjoyed having this opportunity to work with Soft Touch, who do such a great job helping change the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.”
Mentor, Yasmin Giles – RG+P said: “My eyes have been opened to the variations in people’s lives and the different struggles that an individual can face. Not everybody is the same, and something you consider minor could be a major factor of someone else’s life. I have learnt that it is vital not to assume anything and not to judge someone based on their situation; the only way to help is to listen and show them that you care. Through the mentoring process there has been direct and indirect progress. The direct progress relating to the aims and objectives set by the mentee and the indirect achievements and skills gained along the way. I truly believe that the biggest help for the mentee is having someone outside of their normal life who they can talk to, get guidance from and not be judged. It is a safe and understanding space with a focus on finance, careers, housing but the opportunity to speak freely about other matters. It is the kind of situation where you can never be fully prepared as you don’t know what to expect. The training helped with exercising my mind to think in a slightly different way and look/listen for things which I do not usually concentrate on. The first session with the mentee prepares you for the rest; you can prepare for the individual not the scheme.”