Fast-Tracking Success: A Year’s Worth of Mentors Recruited in Three Months

At Goal 17, our commitment to supporting disadvantaged young people through mentoring programs drives us to achieve remarkable milestones. One such achievement is our recent success in recruiting a whole year’s worth of volunteer mentors in just three months. This rapid progress is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our team, and we are excited to share how we did it. 

The Challenge: When we were awarded the contracts to deliver care leaver mentoring programs across six local authorities, we knew we had a monumental task ahead of us. Recruiting and training over 350 volunteer mentors within 18 months was no small feat, but our team was ready to rise to the challenge.

The Process: We began by casting a wide net to attract volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences. This diversity is essential as it allows us to match young people with mentors who can support their unique interests and needs. Our rigorous vetting process ensures that every volunteer is well-prepared for the role.

Training our mentors is a crucial part of the process. We provide comprehensive training sessions that equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to support care leavers effectively. In addition, we educate them about the challenges faced by these young people, encouraging our mentors to become advocates and champions within their communities.

Community Collaboration: To enhance our recruitment efforts, we collaborated with various businesses and organisations. By raising awareness about care leavers and the vital role mentors play in their lives, we inspired many to join our cause. These collaborations often lead to offers of additional support, such as training, work experience, and leisure activities for our mentees.

The Outcome: In just three months, we successfully recruited, vetted, and trained 150 volunteer mentors, who are now actively building relationships with their mentees. This rapid progress has put us well on track to meet our goal of supporting 350 young people by March 2025.

Impact: The impact of having trained and dedicated mentors cannot be overstated. These mentors provide invaluable guidance and support to care leavers, helping them navigate the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. By sharing opportunities and resources with their mentees, mentors play a crucial role in helping these young people engage better with their communities and find pathways to success.

The success of our rapid recruitment drive is a testament to the power of community collaboration and the dedication of our team. As we continue to expand our mentoring programs, we are committed to making a lasting positive impact on the lives of care leavers. We are excited about the future and look forward to sharing more success stories with you.

If you would like to be part of one of our mentoring programmes head to www.careleavermentoring.co.uk and discover how you can get involved