Starting Point supports young people aged 11-25 through two mentoring programmes: Aspire Mentoring and Advance Mentoring.

Aspire Mentoring supports young people aged 16-25 into education, employment, and training

Advance Mentoring supports young people aged 11-19 who are at risk of exclusion from school and/or becoming NEET upon leaving education

Our mentors are all volunteers, who come from all walks of life and they are keen to journey alongside young people.

Our volunteer mentors are a crucial support in two key ways:

• They offer practical support – for example, helping a young person come up with a study timetable, helping identify and apply for appropriate employment, education or training opportunities, or access work experience and voluntary placements.
• They support the young person with social-emotional development and wellbeing – for example, helping them grow in areas such as confidence, self-esteem, a positive mental attitude, and aspiration.

Mentoring at Starting Point takes a relational, tailored, and holistic approach. By taking time to get to know mentees and taking a genuine interest in them, the young person is treated as an individual and supported accordingly. It is through this approach that we see the biggest impact upon the lives of the young people we support.

Given this, and to ensure young people are consistently supported, it is important that mentors can commit to a minimum of 12 months of volunteering for around 1 hour a week.

We need passionate volunteers who are enthusiastic about investing in the young people of Reading.