Mentor 11 to 16s in Pupil Referral Units

What will you be doing?

Meeting during the school day.

Meeting weekly with your mentee, typically at their school, you'll offer consistent encouragement and a listening ear, while motivating them to take small but meaningful steps towards positive change. Many of the young people supported by Unfold have experienced difficulties such as low self-esteem, disrupted education, breakdowns in friendships or family relationships, and a sense of isolation or being misunderstood.

Your role 

You will be to provide a steady, non-judgemental presence that helps them reframe their experiences and build hope for the future. Unfold will equip you with training in positive psychology and coaching-style techniques, enabling you to support your mentee with sensitivity and care. As a volunteer, you’ll: - Build a trusted relationship with a young person, meeting them regularly at their school. - Encourage self-belief and resilience through positive conversation and guidance. - Help them identify personal goals and take steps towards achieving them. - Support them to see new possibilities and opportunities for their future.

Other info on what you provide

Through our comprehensive training and ongoing support, you will develop skills in positive psychology and coaching style techniques, cover topics including safeguarding, confidentiality, the person-centred approach and the growth mindset all of which will help you to effectively support someone to making steps towards positive change. All mentors have a designated Programme Officer, offering 1-2-1 support when you need it. For this programme you will meet during school hours, in most cases, for a minimum of 4 weeks. The programme is designed for sessions to begin within school whilst you build a relationship with your mentee, sessions will then aim to be held outside of school hours, and depending on the need of your mentee, sessions may then be in person, virtually or a mixture of both. Through mentee and mentor testimonies we have seen the positive impact holding sessions in person has, and so we ask any prospective volunteers to be prepared and available for all in person sessions, should this be the required need of your mentee. In person sessions held outside of school will take place near to where your mentee lives, within Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea boroughs.   

What are we looking for?

You will prioritise the needs of your young mentees who may come with a wide range of abilities, from diverse backgrounds and a range of behavioural, emotional and learning difficulties. Being patient and committed to stay with your mentee for the 24 sessions over 6 months is very important. 

At Unfold, our Volunteer Mentor role requires a minimum of three years’ relevant experience in mentoring, coaching, advice, advocacy or relevant life skills to ensure volunteers have the maturity, interpersonal skills, and practical understanding to effectively support young people facing complex personal and social challenges. 

Our mentors provide guidance around confidence-building, goal-setting, and decision-making, often in sensitive situations. Prior experience enables mentors to draw on proven communication and relationship-building skills, maintain appropriate boundaries, and offer consistent, high-quality support that promotes positive development and resilience in the young people we serve.

What difference will you make?

This role is an opportunity to make a lasting impact in a young person’s life, while gaining valuable experience in mentoring and youth support. Unfold hopes you can offer your time on a weekly basis, but this is entirely flexible and at your discretion. If you're ready to help a young person see their own potential, register your interest today and start making a difference with Unfold. 

Before you apply

Application is simple through our online registration form.

We will invite you to an informal online video call for a chat about the role.

Then, if we are a good fir, we'll invite you to training and ongoing support.