Grandmentors

Grandmentors is an innovative programme within the Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme harnessing the energy and experience of older volunteers (50+) to support young people to find work, stay on in education or take up training.

Volunteer mentors are matched with a young person aged between 14-25 in the London boroughs of Hackney, Islington and Camden who are either struggling with, or simply not in, education, employment or training.

It provides a positive relationship with an adult who is there just for them and wants to help. Many of the young people face barriers to employment or education such as a lack of positive adult role models, others need to find their path in life, whilst some have been in trouble with the police.

Grandmentors can help teenagers facing real challenges in their lives - help them to take control and make the right choices.

Mentoring offers extra support . We believe that having an older mentor can make a massive difference to the lives of young people and the project has been successful at changing the lives of some of those taking part.

Grandmentors help young people to develop a personalised action plan during the first month together, providing a structure to the weekly meetings, and goals to work towards - a regular commitment of at least six months gives the relationship real stability.

If you’d like to become a grandmentor or want to find out more about the project contact John Kinnear by telephone on 0207 643 1322 or by email at jkinnear@csv.org.uk.

The Grandmentors project is funded for three years by the JECDA Foundation and will be supported by a robust research programme run by Manchester Metropolitan University.