The Peer Mentoring Service has been developed in partnership with the Zest children and young peoples project to offer one-to-one support and guidance to young people who are vulnerable, isolated, socially excluded or who may be at risk of offending or participating in anti-social behaviour.

The service was established as part of a new community initiative to offer additional support to families especially young people that need one to one support. The need for this service was highlighted by young people and their families. The service is available to children and young people in Netherthorpe Upperthorpe and Langsett.

The peer mentoring service offered by Zest has a number of aims and objectives, these are:

Aims

• To support vulnerable and isolated young people in the local area
• To provide alternative solutions to anti-social behaviour
• To promote positive relationships within the family
• Early intervention/prevention

Objectives

• Empower and enable young people by providing one to one support and befriending
• Provide opportunities and information
• Support young people to access services and activities locally and city-wide

Through regular contact with a peer mentor, a child or young person will begin to gain confidence and self-esteem to deal with situations that previously have been difficult. It is also hoped that children and young people will feel more capable of accessing activities by themselves once the peer mentoring relationship ends.
A peer mentor is able to provide one to one support to individuals by:-

• Acting as an advocate on behalf of a mentee
• Being a positive role model
• Raising the self esteem and confidence of a child or young person who is at risk of exclusion
• Offering information about services and activities available to children, young people and parents
• Encouraging individuals to participate in positive local/city-wide activities with a view to minimising criminal and anti social behaviour.

Families can get in touch directly with project managers to access the service or they can be referred by an agency or professional.
For further information, please contact the Zest on 0114 2702040.

Peer Mentors

Anyone wishing to become a Peer Mentor for children and young people must complete a Peer Mentoring training course, certificates will be issued on completion of the course.

After the completion of the 10 hour Peer Mentoring training course, mentors are offered the option of completing a 25 hour work based placement that covers case management, one to one support work, group work and general playwork activities.
Trained peer mentors may then have opportunities for paid sessional work with Zest's young people project, Family Support and other local organisations.