What is a Mentor?
A Le Chéile Mentor is a volunteer aged 20 and over who acts as a role model, advisor and friend to a young person (mentee).
What is involved?
Le Chéile Mentors are asked to give 3 hours a week for two years. They are also asked to attend group support meetings and ongoing training.
What would I do with my mentee?
Mentors meet with their young people (mentees) every week for a few hours and they engage in various activities with the young person such as getting involved in sports, going to the cinema, talking, getting involved in courses etc.
Mentors are assigned a young person for a period of approximately 6 months to 2 years. For the first 6- 8 weeks the mentor and mentee focus on getting to know each other through social activities.
After this point they meet with the co-ordinator and try to set some goals such as helping the young person build their self-esteem, motivating them to engage in education or employment, etc.
Matching mentors and mentees
An important part in ensuring the success of the project and making sure the project is enjoyable for the mentor and mentee is in the initial match.
For this reason, the co-ordinator will complete profile of yourself to determine which young person you may be best suited to. Matching takes account of geographical location, interests, time available etc.
No formal qualifications or experience is required as all training is provided. However, mentors should enjoy working with young people, be non-judgemental, un-biased in their approach and have a good understanding of young people and the issues and challenges with which they are faced.
What support is offered to mentors?
All Mentors attend monthly group support meetings with the Mentor Co-ordinator to discuss their case and to get support and advice from other Mentors. Ongoing training is provided throughout the year as well as well as social opportunities for Mentors to get together. The Mentor Co-ordinator is always available to contact by telephone.