Online support and mentoring for teenagers
Navigating adolescence isn’t easy. Social pressures, academic stress, and the complexities of personal identity can leave teenagers feeling lost and overwhelmed. But at BrightPaths, we understand the unique challenges facing today’s youth, and we’re here to provide the support and guidance they need to thrive through our youth empowerment and support (YES) Mentoring service.
Apply to joinHow Y.E.S Mentoring works
Are you seeking help to support your teenager’s mental health? Our team of YES mentors specialises in guiding and supporting teens and tweens facing challenges such as low-level anxiety, low mood, self-esteem issues, and understanding and accepting themselves.
Wondering if our program is right for your child? If your teen or tween is avoiding school or other activities they once enjoyed, experiencing low-level anxiety, struggling with self-esteem issues, or needing additional support with understanding themselves and navigating neurodiversity, our mentoring program could be the perfect fit.
Each mentee receives up to 12 weekly sessions with a designated trained mentor, lasting 40-50 minutes. We understand teens and tweens have busy lives, so we offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate their routines and commitments.
Child-Centered Discussion Areas
In addition to providing a secure environment for young individuals to openly express and navigate their emotions and obstacles, mentos teache valuable skills and strategies to facilitate their personal development. Each session is tailored to meet individual requirements, addressing a variety of topics such as:
We understand that sometimes, children and young people need an outside perspective to navigate the challenges life throws their way. Our mentors provide a safe and supportive environment where mentees can share their thoughts, concerns, and feelings confidentially.
We equip children with healthy ways to handle stress and challenges. Through these sessions, they will learn effective coping strategies that will serve them throughout their lives.
Staying present, focused, and calm is crucial for overall well-being. We teach mindfulness techniques that help young individuals develop essential skills for emotional regulation.
Recognising and nurturing children’s strengths is an integral part of our program. We empower them to build self-confidence and resilience, preparing them for a bright future.
Fostering positivity and appreciation for life’s small joys is at the heart of our program. We help young individuals focus on the good things in life and maintain a positive outlook.
We believe in empowering children to pursue and achieve their dreams. Our mentors work with mentees to set goals and develop the skills and strategies necessary to turn those dreams into reality.
Coping day to day with the impacts and effects of Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia has provento be immensely challenging for our child. Throughout her life so far, the school environment is one that she has found overwhelming, unforgiving, impenetrable and extremely difficult. Until her intervention with Bright Paths, school avoidance was high on her agenda, not because she doesn’t have the desire to achieve, quite the opposite in fact but her ability to mask uses every ounce of her energy throughout the school day just to try and fit in. Feeling exhausted, lost, misunderstood and friendless she felt unable to express or communicate her feelings in school and had become a people pleaser, desperate for acceptance in the school environment both with her peers and also teachers. From the age of 13 she was rapidly becoming a shadow of her former self, overthinking even the smallest detail, driven by anxiety and becoming increasingly irrational. Dissolving into meltdowns and often self-harming from the moment she walked through the front door, most of this frustrated behaviour was attributable to the school environment and was impacting family life as well as her own learning. Her masking and people pleasing meant that she had fallen in to the trap of a couple of coercive and controlling “friendships” which undermined her confidence even further.
BrightPaths intervention was pivotal in supporting our child to understand and begin to talk about her feelings in a trusted environment. Building her confidence, recognising her own voice and self-worth, she was expertly given the tools to help herself and the confidence begin to work out what she needed to get through each day in school and identify coping mechanisms.
The emotional support and validation for our child was key. She felt listened to and understood in a school environment for the first time. The fact that this led to a further intervention through the CANter programme, playing in to her passion for horses and continuing to develop her courage was wonderful. This was the difference, driving up her attendance in school and having a lasting impact on her ability to be mentally alert and present.
Overall, the effect of the Bright Paths intervention has been incredibly impactful not only for our child but for our whole family. The support far outweighed our expectations and has had a lasting impact in supporting her to begin to advocate for herself. Our child has a new found confidence and although masking is part of who she is, she is able to better regulate, manage and talk through issues rather than allowing them to build up, which is having a much better effect on her overall well-being. We also feel supported as parents and enabled to follow up on other initiatives and pathways to further encourage and support our child.
Natashia, you are a superstar and we simply cannot thank you and the Bright Paths team enough.
Parent of Mentee , 2024
Why Choose YES Mentoing?
Did you know that teens who have access to mentoring are likely to have healthier relationships and lifestyle choices, better attitude and attendance at school, enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence, improved behaviour both at home and at school, stronger relationships with parents, teachers, and peers, enhanced interpersonal skills, and decreased likelihood of initiating drug and alcohol use?
We regularly gather feedback from mentees in addition to weekly check-ins to measure positive change. Our evidence-based approach is backed by research showing that mentoring significantly improves academic performance, social skills, and emotional well-being in young individuals.
Empowering Teens with YES Mentoring
Tailored Support: Besides being a great place to offload, our mentors provide personalised strategies and guidance to help your child navigate their challenges effectively.
Flexible and Confidential: Our online mentoring sessions offer a safe and confidential space for teens and tweens to express themselves, with flexible communication options using their phone, tablet, or laptop and their choice of video or audio only.
Real Support from Real People: Your child will connect with a genuine, empathetic professional who will offer a non-judgmental approach, a compassionate heart, and practical strategies to help your teen navigate the ups and downs of adolescence with resilience and determination. They’ll chat with the same mentor weekly, ensuring continuity and trust-building.
No Cost, No Threshold: Our mentoring service is free and accessible to children who may not meet the criteria for alternative mental health support services.
Accessibility and inclusivity: We welcome referrals from children facing challenges, including those with SEN (Special Educational Needs), Looked-after Children, and vulnerable groups such as those experiencing emotional-based school avoidance or identified as Pupil Premium and Young Carers. We understand their unique hurdles and are committed to providing the support they deserve.
We strive to help as many children as possible. However, resources are limited, and two missed sessions (without notice) may result in support being withdrawn. Active participation and communication are crucial to maximising the benefits of mentoring.
Additional family services
We offer complimentary telephone consultations to parents and guardians. These sessions serve not only to discuss our services and their potential benefits for your child but also to provide guidance on finding services better suited to your needs, advice on supporting your child at home, and strategies for engaging with schools to enhance support for your child.
Join our online workshops tailored to address the pressing concerns of parents seeking resources and guidance to support their children. From deepening your understanding of teenage mental health to effective support strategies, our insightful workshops cater to your specific needs. Stay updated on upcoming workshops by following our news page and social media channels for announcements.
We recognise that remote support may not be suitable for everyone. That’s why we also offer outreach support within school settings, providing a more direct and targeted approach for individuals who may require it. We’re committed to collaborating with your child’s school to ensure they support your referral and provide a conducive environment for our work.
This service is not funded; parents or the school must cover associated costs. However, we offer subsidies in some instances. Contact us for further details when you reach out.
Frequently asked Y.E.S questions
Accessing our services is simple. You can refer a child through schools, local authorities, or professionals (school outreach) or opt for self-referral (Y.E.S. Mentoring). We’ve also made our referral form available directly through our website.
Upon receiving a completed referral form, a booking email is sent to the provided email address on the referral form. The child can then, independently or with support, book their initial appointment at a convenient time. Subsequently, a dedicated mentor is matched with the mentee to provide ongoing support and guidance through regular one-to-one sessions. During the initial session, the mentor and mentee spend time getting to know each other and conducting an initial assessment to understand the needs and goals of the mentee.
Each weekly session lasts between 40-50 minutes. The duration of the Y.E.S. Mentoring program varies depending on the needs and progress of the mentee. Typically, the program lasts between 6 and 12 sessions with a review at the 6-week and 9-week periods.
Currently, Y.E.S. Mentoring is funded through grants and donations, allowing us to offer the program to families at no cost. However, as funding is competitive, we do ask parents/guardians to contribute financially if they are able to do so through our donations page. Even a very low amount can make a difference; every little helps. This ensures continued accessibility for all in need.
A Y.E.S Mentor provides a safe and supportive space for mentees to explore their thoughts, feelings, and challenges. They offer practical strategies, emotional support, and encouragement to help mentees develop coping skills, build resilience, and achieve their goals.
Sessions can be amended and postponed using the login created when the initial session was booked, details of which are provided in the booking instructions. We understand that from time to time, there will be events that occur preventing this from happening, but just let us know as soon as you can through the app or by emailing support@brightpaths.org.uk. In the event of two consecutive missed sessions or where no contact has been made for two missed sessions, support will be withdrawn to ensure that children who need support can access it.
Y.E.S. Mentoring, short for “Youth Empowerment & Support”, is our specialised online service designed to provide personalised one-to-one support and guidance to children and young people aged 11+. Unlike other services, Y.E.S. offers light touch support focusing on the specific needs and goals of each individual. Participants in the Y.E.S. Mentoring program meet with their mentor weekly to work towards SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) and have a safe place to talk, be heard, and explore current difficulties.
Our team comprises highly experienced professionals with expertise in child development, psychology, counselling, and related fields. Each member undergoes a DBS check and holds safeguarding and child protection training. Additionally, our staff regularly participate in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities, including courses such as Mental Health First Aid, Child Sexual Exploitation, Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Early Trauma, as well as the Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health, among others. Rest assured, your child is in safe hands.
Due to the remote nature of support, Y.E.S Mentoring is available nationally for children and young people aged 11 to 18 (up to 24 for those with Special Educational Needs.)
We have set the age range at 11 and above due to the online nature of our support program and the potential challenges younger children may face in engaging without physical resources.
While both support avenues support children and young people, mentoring, therapy, and counselling have different processes and purposes:
Mentoring:
- Focus: Empowering young people to thrive by building confidence, developing life skills, and achieving goals.
- Setting: Informal and flexible, often in community-based settings like schools or online.
- Approach: Solution-oriented, helping young people identify their strengths and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
- Relationship: Longer-term, supportive connection with a positive role model who provides guidance and encouragement.
- Examples: Developing self-esteem and communication skills, navigating social challenges, setting academic goals, managing stress and anxiety, and exploring talents and interests.
Counselling &Therapy:
- Focus: Treating specific mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, or trauma.
- Setting: Clinical or professional environment often with long waiting lists and high thresholds for statutory support.
- Approach: Diagnostic and therapeutic, using evidence-based techniques to address underlying issues.
- Relationship: Professional interaction with a qualified therapist.
- Examples: Processing past experiences, managing emotional difficulties, and learning coping strategies for moderate to severe mental health conditions.
Think of it this way:
- Mentoring: Helps young people build resilience and reach their full potential.
- Therapy: Focuses on treating specific mental health concerns.
BrightPaths offers mentoring programs that complement therapy, providing a safe space for young people to grow and thrive.
At Bright Paths, we understand that parents, caregivers, or teachers may wish to be present during mentoring sessions. However, it’s essential to consider the impact this might have on the mentoring dynamic. Research indicates that young people may feel less inclined to share their concerns if a parent or caregiver is present. Therefore, while we acknowledge the initial desire for parental support, our mentoring sessions are designed to offer one-on-one support for young people in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
If you believe your child needs your presence during mentoring sessions, please indicate this in the referral form. We understand that accessing external support may be a significant step for some young people, and we can make accommodations to ensure their comfort and well-being. However, we encourage you to assist them in logging into their session and finding a comfortable space before giving them some privacy. It’s essential to gradually allow your child to develop confidence and independence during sessions, enabling them to express themselves and discover their own voice.
If you, as a parent, are seeking support, we recommend booking a consultation with one of our mentors or behaviour consultants, who can offer additional assistance.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in ensuring the best possible support for your child.
Participation in the Y.E.S. Mentoring program can lead to improved emotional well-being, increased self-esteem, enhanced coping skills, and better overall resilience. Mentees may also experience improvements in academic performance, social relationships, and overall quality of life. At the very least, the mentee will develop the emotional literacy to talk about their challenges with a safe and trusted mentor who gives them the time and space to be heard and express themselves.
At BrightPaths, confidentiality and privacy are of the utmost importance. We follow strict guidelines to protect the personal information of all individuals who receive our services. However, to support long-term positive outcomes, we work collaboratively with schools and families, sharing strategies when appropriate to enhance the well-being and progress of the young people we serve.
It’s also important to note that while we respect privacy, our priority is the safety of the young people we work with. In alignment with our safeguarding policy, if we believe a young person is at risk of harm, we must share relevant information with the appropriate parties to ensure their safety.
