Principals and history of Youth 4 Youth

Youth 4 Youth aims to allow young people to achieve theIr potential through peer to peer mentoring. Training and support are provided for staff and young people in line with Approved Provider Standard (APS) to run safe and effective peer mentoring schemes.
The main outcome being  vulnerable young people access support from some theIr own age.
As the project matures mentors get the opportunity to take on leadership roles within the project and to pass on good practice.

Timeline of Youth 4 Youth development

2001 project formed: in order for established MV volunteers to support inexperienced MV volunteers
2002 project done in other organisations training package developed
2004 Gold Star status given by Home Office to develop peer mentoring in Somerset schools and youth     organisations
2005 awarded APS
2006 Gold Star funding to develop best practice nationally and run peer to peer mentoring in Somerset
2009 APS reaccredited

2008 Support Agency for South West Region Peer Mentoring Anti Bullying Pilot
Administered by Mentoring Befriending Foundation, Funded by DCSF
22 Schools in the South west region in 8 Local Authorities see Appendix A

7 Primary schools12 Mainstream Secondary schools3 special schools

Outcomes
Set up from scratch 13 new sustainable peer to peer support projects
We believe that during our work in one year 2840 young people were touched by the project generating 440 volunteer peer supporters who were trained supported and supervised all in under 15 months.  Success of the project was celebrated though awards such as Diana Anti Bullying Award newsletter and local press.

Positive outcomes
  • Increased sense of well being in the school
  • Vulnerable pupils supported
  • Various solutions
  • Some schools had one to one sessions which were in tutorial time, some were in break and lunch time
  • Some schools had lunch time activity sessions
  • Most of the primary schools opted for playground buddy model which proved very successful in reducing the number of low level disagreements which would then have been escalated into mis-behaviour during lesson time
  • Senior peer supporters able to grow in leadership and pastoral skills, something not offered elsewhere in curriculum
  • Anti Bullying having a focus for young people by young people
  • Teachers being able to discuss scheme with support agency and receive guidance
  • Opportunities for further Staff training
  • Opportunities for staff development and professional progression
  • Disclosure of abuse brought to light


Challenges encountered
  • Senior Management not supporting scheme
  • No time allocated to do the role therefore support given to students suffered
  • Setting up a scheme and young people disengaging due lack of pupil involvement and change of key staff
  • Time not available for staff and students to network and training events attending free events
  • Schemes seen as low priority


How made it happen
Schools received 3 visits per year. 2 networking events per annum phone / email support each school  given guidance to run project in line with Approved Provider Standard. Self referral tool used to track progress

Total pilot Cost in south west £48000 for per annum 1 full time trained worker admin and office support
cost £2200 but because rural nature of southwest need £2500 to run it successfully
Each school received £800 for cover for network time and run project as cover costs high most schools therefore suggest schools given £1500 per annum

Appendix A
School which were selected for the pilotAvishayes Primary School

Chard, Blaise Primary School, Bristol, Brislington Enterprise College, Bristol, Budmouth Technology College
Weymouth, Burnbush Primary School, Coombe Dean School, Dyson Perrins High School

Malvern, Worcs.Fair Furlong Primary School, Hele's School, Hillside Special School, Milestone School, Milverton Community Primary School, Mount Tamar Special School, Oldbury Court Primary, Park Community School, 
Redland Green School, St. Dunstan's Community College, St. Luke's Science and Sports College, Thomas Hardye School, Whitecross, Lydney, South Glos, Winchcombe School, Cheltenham, Yealmpstone Farm Primary School

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Youth 4 Youth Training Packages available to others 

Duration: 1 day
Cost: £500 plus travel
Introduction into running a mentoring project Bronze or Silver mentoring training packages covering: -
APS Framework 10 steps
A one off day to give delegates an introduction to the tools and techniques for setting up and running their own mentoring project.

Duration: 2 days        
Cost: £1000 plus travel
Introduction to running a mentoring project Bronze and Silver Training
An in-depth look into the APS 10 step framework
A one off training package to take away the tools and techniques for setting up and running a successful mentoring project.

Duration: 4 days plus on going support   for six months
Cost:£4000 plus travel
1 day Introduction to running a mentoring project
Bronze and Silver Training
3 on site training or support day during the six months  
An in-depth look into the APS 10 step framework
Six months telephone and email support from Somerset Youth Volunteering Network
2 face to face  staff support meetings over the six month period of support

youth 4 youth  , peer to peer youth mentroing 

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Youth 4 Youth training is delivered in 4 flexible but progressive levels (bronze,silver, gold and platinum). 
Each level is delivered in small bite size chunks which are flexible enough to fit in around young persons other commitments. The flexibility of the levels also enables a young person to take a break from mentor volunteering at busy or difficult times such as exams and school holidays and then dip back in again once life is a little less hectic. Every mentor starts at the bronze level which covers the basics, what is mentoring, skills required, boundaries, what a mentor can help with, confidentiality, child protection and the law and communication skills. For those mentors wishing to enhance their mentoring development, silver and gold levels are advanced levels and provide information on how to manage the mentoring relationship, how to set goals, how to provide quality support and signposting as well as providing additional workshops on issues that may affect young people and may be disclosed during the mentoring relationship. These issues include bullying, eating disorders, bereavement, drugs and alcohol. All mentors are supported by VN staff and have the opportunity to access ‘ Talking Time’ a counselling service for both mentors and mentees as an ‘emotional safety net’ if they have had an experience with a mentee that has traumatised them.The Project adopts an operational philosophy that recognises that young people are more likely to stay and perform well as volunteers if it is an enjoyable experience. Youth 4 Youth mentoring training draws upon non traditional school based teaching methods such as role play, drama, video making, art and game playing. Adopting such methods make for a more relaxed, fun and interactive training experience which helps to ensure that volunteer mentors keep coming back for more.