I have been volunteering for over a year. I wanted to volunteer as a way for me to help young people who are embarking a difficult time in their life. I had learnt some theory during my degree and wanted to put these into practice during my time volunteering.

I found the initial training super useful and beneficial- it was in a comfortable environment where I was happy to openly talk and discuss my thoughts and feelings.

What have you learnt from the project? 

I am a student, and I felt taking part in this programme was a way for me to put my skills and knowledge into practice. I gained greater skills when it comes to working with service users, such as how to formulate sessions and goals. I gained confidence as well as learning new theory and skills to use when working with the young person.

What type of activities did you do with your mentee? How do you think they benefited from the experience?

I built a good relationship by ensuring I was listening empathetically, not pressuring the young person to talk if they don’t work, and ensuring each session is service-user led to make sure they feel comfortable and safe.

We talk about feelings. I use a colour emotion wheel to help the young person identify and discuss their feelings more easy. We focused on different goals and areas the young person wanted to work on. In my case it was confidence, self-esteem and independence.

Why should people take part in the mentoring programme?

I think it finds a way to get you own your comfort zone- to challenge yourself by focusing on how you can help someone else achieve their goals. It also helps learn new skills such as how to listen emphatically, build a rapport, working as part of a care team, and using your initiative when things get tough.

You can find out more information on how to join the CAMHS Mentoring Project and other volunteering schemes the South London and Maudsley Trust has to offer: https://slam.nhs.uk/camhs-mentoring-project.

The mentoring program has been an exciting journey for me. It has exposed me to different kinds of challenges and opportunities for me to learn and develop myself personally and professionally.

There are so many transferable skills that I have gained and being able to work with my mentee with ADHD has allowed me to build upon these skills, whilst continuing to give my best in supporting my mentee in navigating the challenges they face.

Because of the unique position we have as mentors, our relationship with our mentees are quite flexible. In achieving the goals and objectives set out at the start of the mentoring journey, it allows us to use personalised approached in navigating our relationship by drawing upon our personal experience and knowledge, allowing us to communicate with our mentee on a more personal level. They could learn from our experiences and make the appropriate decisions from there. That in itself is life-changing as we get to empower and equip them with the right information for them to take the next steps. And because we get to explore other fun activities like playing games, we get to have fun too! My mentee has a PS3 and Switch, and we would occasionally play them together.

My mentoring journey has been an exciting one, I learnt so much from it, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a unique experience to gain more skills and experience in this area.

You can find out more information on how to join the CAMHS Mentoring Project and other volunteering schemes the South London and Maudsley Trust has to offer: https://slam.nhs.uk/camhs-mentoring-project.

How long have you been a volunteer for the project?

I have been volunteering for almost 2 years now. I came across the program towards the end of my last year at uni as I wanted to help people struggling with their mental health and as my first experience working within the field I can say I’m glad I became a mentor and I would recommend it to anyone looking to support young people.

What have you learnt from the project? 

As a mentor I have been able to build therapeutic relationships, develop my communication skills and learn from supervision – all skills that have allowed me to constantly improve delivery of sessions and my general approach in supporting mentees making progress toward their goals. Additionally, I have been able to use these skills in my work as a support worker and I will continue to do so throughout my career.

What type of activities did you do with your mentee? How do you think they benefited from the experience?

Above all, I have especially enjoyed taking part in activities with mentees. In my experience I have been able to use sports that mentees enjoy, to build rapport. Not only do I enjoy sport too, but it also allows for trust to be built and as a tool to create goals mentees can work toward in a way they find interesting, which I have also found to be key to engaging mentees.

Using this approach, alongside being empathetic and non-judgemental, will allow mentees to be themselves and enjoy improving their wellbeing. Therefore, I would recommend to anyone who wants to help young people and values these qualities to become a mentor.

You can find out more information on how to join the CAMHS Mentoring Project and other volunteering schemes the South London and Maudsley Trust has to offer: https://slam.nhs.uk/camhs-mentoring-project.

What made you volunteer for the project?

I decided to volunteer as I’d like to have varied experience in the mental health sector. Additionally, I am particularly passionate about mental health in young people. I sought out volunteer opportunities online which is how I found this opportunity. I have been a part of the programme for 10 months now. Initially you have to attend a training session before you’re paired up with a mentee. The training was incredibly insightful and accessible.

What have you learnt during this experience?

I graduated from De Montfort University in the summer of 2021 with a BSc in Psychology. I currently work as a trainee Mental Health Wellbeing Practioner (a new psychological practitioner role introduced recently by the NHS). During the mentoring journey, I was able to learn a lot about OCD and Autism, as my mentee had both diagnoses. This was an invaluable experience, as I was able to apply theoretical knowledge I have previously acquired and also learn new information, while busting the many myths surrounding OCD and Autism.

How do you think your mentee has benefited from your mentoring?

I believe my mentee gained skills to make them more confident in social interactions/settings and gained advice on how to protect their mental health as they navigate the future.

How were you able to build a relationship with your mentee?

My mentee and I discussed many things. Our main topics of discussions were politics, social justice, history and social lives. We often met at my mentee’s house, but we frequently took walks for our sessions. We found that this provided a neutral environment that allows both of us to speak candidly. We also took the time to have fun and went to the cinema too!

I checked in with my mentor regularly by text message, even if we hadn’t scheduled to meet up. We both saw it as important to be accountable and this fostered a good relationship between us. To my surprise, we shared a lot of the same interests, so we got on straight away like a house on fire! That really helped the mentoring process as we were on the same page from the start.

Why should people take part in the mentoring project?

Aside from the fact that you will gain experience to add to your CV, the mentoring experience is incredibly rewarding. You’re given the opportunity to support a young person 1:1 at one of the most crucial times of their life. I think it’s even more important because young people who need support with their mental health can often feel ostracised and alienated. It was an amazing experience for me to be able to be there for a young person and provide them with a form of comfort and to make their life that much easier.

I would absolutely recommend this programme to other mentors. The experience you will gain is absolutely invaluable. It is amazing to connect with young people and to help them realise and actualise their own potential. It is such a rewarding feeling, and I would happily volunteer again.

Aside from supporting a young person with mental health difficulties, I was able to learn so much from my mentee. They were incredibly smart and their perspective on life was refreshing and really got me thinking. It was an intriguing experience indeed.

You can find out more information on how to join the CAMHS Mentoring Project and other volunteering schemes the South London and Maudsley Trust has to offer: https://slam.nhs.uk/camhs-mentoring-project.