One-to-one mentoring

We have a number of mentors who engage with young people who are not currently accessing any support through their schools or social services. Referrals to our mentoring programme come from local schools, social services, community organisations, parents and self-referrals.

Aim: 

The aim of the programme is to build a relationship with the young person and identify the root cause of a young persons behaviour.

How do we work? 

We work on a one-to-one basis and in small groups, large group PSHE lessons/Assemblies and street-based interventions.

Our one-to-one mentors have supported young people who are deemed as high risk to offending behaviour and crime.

Many of the young people are affiliated or associated with local gangs, therefore, there is an increased risk of being involved with knife crime.

Our team have a wealth of experience having worked in crime prevention, young offenders institutions, as outreach workers in identified risk areas and in alternative curriculum education.  

Our programmes have relied upon our staff engaging with young people who are disengaged and identified as being at risk of being involved/or, who are involved in knife crime.

Once the young person has engaged with the outreach worker we start to challenge the attitude toward knives, gangs and the associated risks.

When appropriate we have partnered with other agencies to further help in reducing the risk of knife crime (Kent Police, Social Services, Kenward Trust - drug and alcohol awareness, Counselling services).

U CHOOZ Project

Our "U CHOOZ" project has been running for 4 years in Kent. We have identified an increase in gang culture and young people portraying risky behaviour. We have been assisting schools by intervening where the young people are heavily involved in gangs, crime, negative behaviour or drugs.

We aim to increase our early intervention services to break the cycle earlier with young people.

The service is being currently being delivered by two members of staff, we aim to train volunteers to become peer educators in order for us to re- engage with more young people.

Our key aims against which we measure our success are:

• Reduce offending behaviour by breaking cycles

• Increase self-worth value and emotional well being

• Increase positive role models from different ethnic backgrounds and experiences

• Increase self-awareness about negative behaviour and find solutions for the future

• Divert young people from crime by giving informative and educational workshops

• Increase support for young people on drugs and alcohol issues

• Enable young people to stay in school, training and employment by making informed choices

• Reduce the proportion of 16 to 18-year-olds not in education, employment or training (NEET)