How can a Mentor help a family?

The Skills that A Family Mentor Needs 

Without volunteer mentors, most Family Mentoring schemes could not function, and both families and children wouldn't get the support they need. 

A family Mentor is a friend, an encourager, and a listening ear. A family mentor is trained to work with a family helping them to achieve the changes they want to make in their lives - and can assist with:-

family relationships
parenting
budgeting
finding a job
managing health issues
life goals
links to services
connecting with the community

What skills do family Mentors need?

an experience of life
an ability to work as part of a team
an understanding of the pressures facing parents today
and a genuine interest in supporting families in the community

Being a volunteer can be hard work, but it is also rewarding, giving many chances for personal development and the chance to give something back to your local community. Commitment for a long term relationship is required - weekly visits to your family for sometimes up to a year or more.

Working as a family Mentor makes you feel valued and allows you to discover skills you didn't know you had and meet a whole range of people that you would otherwise not meet. It can provide you with a whole experience and richness that you wouldn't get otherwise.

Most volunteer mentors receive some basic training. This could include areas like:-

The Coaching Relationship
Building a Trusting Relationship
Relating & Engaging
Goal Setting & Empowerment
Values, Confidentiality & Boundaries
Basic Communication Skills
Working with Children
Family Conflict
Depression & Mental Health

There is normally ongoing support and supervision from the organisation you are working with.