Everything About Peer Mentor!

What is a Peer Mentor?

“Mentoring is a one-to-one, non-judgemental relationship in which an individual voluntarily gives time to support and encourage another. This is typically developed at a time of transition in the mentee’s life, and lasts for a significant and sustained period of time.”

Peer mentors are people with personal experience of recovery from mental health difficulties, trained to support those they mentor (mentees) through the recovery process. The peer mentors are identified by professionals in Swansea providing mental health services and referred to the Transcend project for training and support. The Transcend coordinator then identifies a suitable match for the mentor and supports both people to get the most out of the project.

Mentoring programs, when carefully designed and well run, provide positive influences for younger people who may need a little extra attention or who don’t have a good support system available to them. For example, a young person who has recently lost a parent or close family member or who has experienced neglect or abuse or who simply feels lonely or uncomfortable in large group situations may especially benefit from the support, attention, and kindness of a peer mentor, along with other supports.

What are the Benefits:

While Peer Mentoring can provide valuable support for students at critical points in their student life, it offers a host of other benefits for both mentor and mentee.

Benefits of being a Mentee

• Gain practical advice, encouragement and support
• Learn from the experiences of others
• Increase your social and academic confidence
• Become more empowered to make decisions
• Develop your communication, study and personal skills
• Develop strategies for dealing with both personal and academic issues
• Identify goals and establish a sense of direction
• Gain valuable insight into the next stage of your university career
• Make new friends across year groups

Benefits of being a Mentor

• Improve communication and personal skills
• Develop leadership and management qualities
• Reinforce your own study skills and knowledge of your subject(s)
• Increase your confidence and motivation
• Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
• Enhance your CV
• Increase your circle of friends
• Gain recognition for your skills and experience
• Benefit from a sense of fulfilment and personal growth.How much time do peer mentors give?Peer mentors give at least four hours a week to their mentees, to ensure that goals can be realistically achieved.
  

How do I become a mentor with the project?

You can either make contact with us through a mental health or other support service, by asking them to complete a mentor nomination form on your behalf (the form is available to download on Transcend website). Or, you can call or e-mail the project yourself using the details below. The Project Coordinator will then get in touch with you to discuss the process with you.

How can I get the support of a Peer Mentor?

Get in touch with the project either by contacting the Project Coordinator yourself, or ask someone else to contact the Project using the referral form, available on the right of the page.

Follow the link to Transcend, SCVS  Swansea Project for more information.

http://www.scvs.org.uk/volunteeringandcitizenship/volunteering/p2652.html