Inspiring & empowering young people to succeed
My Future is a youth programme that helps guide and support young people through mentoring. Working alongside inspiring individuals from a range of businesses, students have raised aspirations and the chance of a better future.
The programme is offered to young people from Discovery College as well as other schools within Plymouth and is supported by our careers team and mentor coordinator
How it works
The programme assigns each young person with a business professional mentor who kindly volunteers their time for the duration of the academic year. Both mentee and mentor will meet regularly to discuss various topics, ranging from careers, aspirations, life skills and employability. With the support of the mentor coordinator, mentors are able to access resources and training, as well as guidance throughout the process.
Below are some of the key activities followed throughout the programme:
Pen Portraits and Meet & Greet
The first step of the programme is to match mentor with mentee after both completing a pen portrait. This enables us to have the most suitable match possible that will benefit the young person.
Themed Monthly Sessions
Mentors will undertake an in-person (or virtual if required) monthly mentoring sessions with their mentee based around a particular theme of development and growth. Resources are available for the mentors to guide these sessions.
Personal Development Plan
A personal development plan will be created for the mentee with actions and progress reports being undertaken throughout the programme.
LinkedIn Support Group
Mentors will be able to contact each other and share stories via our closed LinkedIn group.
Project Sponsors
My Future does not receive grants or government funding, therefore the kind help of our generous sponsors truly help to make this project possible.
Headline Sponsor
Can you be a sponsor? Whether it’s providing in-kind resources or a donation to the costs of running this project your contribution can make a real difference. If you are interested please contact sarah.newberry@ymcaplymouth.org.uk
Supporters
Thank you to these fantastic businesses whose kind staff have committed their time as mentors
YGS Landscapes Ltd | Willmott Dixon | Wolferstans | Theatre Royal Plymouth | KEIR CONSTRUCTION Ltd | Services Design Solution (SDS) | Plymouth City Council | JCH CONSULTANCY SERVICES LIMITED | WGP MAINTENANCE LTD | Thetius | Ward Williams Associates | Devon & Plymouth Chamber of Commerce| Crowne Plaza Hotel Plymouth | Big Wave Media Digital | Ashfords LLP | Clarity Wealth Management | Babcock | Competitive Solutions |CoreBlue | Dartmoor Carriages | DWP | Enterprise Holdings | Europe at Strava | Family Stability Network | Her Marketing | IMDb | Imployable Me | Invigorate fitness and nutrition | JGBM Distribution and Marketing | Kate Gliddon Learning Institute | Livewell | Mindset Coach | National Trust (Saltram) | NHS |Osiris Visible | Partners& | Plymbrook Book Keeping Services | Rowe IT | Sustainable Print Copy and Scanning | Temple Spa | The HR Dept | Acronyms | Andrews Survey |Babcock |BCNS | Bills Boy’s Bistro | Borringdon Hall | Business Success SW | Business Training Specialist | Evidall Marketing | Formosa 2 | HBH Woollacotts | Hellermann Tyton | Horizon Counselling Services | Introtweet | John Murcott | Lloyds Rigging Lifting Testing Ltd | MLA College | MTL Training | No Accident Health and Safety | Tom Brevitt | Valor Hospitality | GA Solicitors
Requirements to be a mentor?
There are no specific requirements to be a mentor aside from the willingness to engage with the programme and help guide a young person.
The minimum commitment is only 1 hour every three weeks over a school academic year, with the option to do more if you want!
Two and a half separate day mentoring training sessions will be available for free for all prospective mentors, delivered by our mentor coordinator. Further resources and materials will also be made available to you with support from our Discovery College careers team and mentor coordinator
We encourage mentors from a variety of backgrounds, ages and industries, with or without previous experience working with young people or mentoring. The emphasis of the programme is for mentors to be positive role models that can draw not only from their own career and education, but also their broader life experience. This can be hugely beneficial to any young person, even if your particular career or life path may be different their own aspirations.
All mentors are Enhance DBS checked with this service being provided for free with thanks to the South West STEM Ambassador Hub.
What our mentees and mentors say..
I feel that the mentoring program has really helped me to become a better person. Me and my mentor both understand each other a lot and he has taught me loads of things and helped me to address any issues I have and work to resolve them. I hope we will be friends for life.
Bobby, Mentee
Age 17
My mentor has been brilliant and we got on so well from day 1. We have talked about lots of different things from personal stuff to jobs, where she has helped me to find work. With her help I have improved my mental health and Im about to start my career in childcare.
Sophie, Mentee
Age 18
The most rewarding thing about this programme is seeing my mentee come out of his shell and begin to think about things differently.
Nigel Facey, Mentor
HBH Woolacotts
I have loved every minute of the programme and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the two girls I have mentored. We have used the sessions to talk about work, family, friends and life in general and had countless cups of coffee. This is a fantastic scheme that is helping to support those young people who need it the most.
Colleen Symons, Mentor
Greenlight Safety & Training
Get involved
To learn more about the programme please contact the programme lead, Sarah Newberry
T 01752 761000
E sarah.newberry@ymcaplymouth.org.uk
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