Introducing the fantastic Project Coordinators who work incredibly hard behind the scenes to keep the wheels running for YMCA’s national Y Mentoring programme!
The Y Mentoring programme pairs trained volunteer mentors with at-risk young people aged 9-14 providing early intervention and enabling mentees to improve their socio-emotional wellbeing.
Get to know the people who are the catalysts championing mentors and mentees to pursue meaningful, transformative relationships across YMCAs.
Y Mentoring is funded by Benefact Trust and DCMS; The Department for Culture, Media & Sport.
Supporting young people aged 9–14 to be their best.
Cat, YMCA Barry
“One of my favourite quotes is ‘be who you needed when you were younger.’
“I struggled with mental health and wellbeing as a young girl and reflecting back I think I would have massively benefitted from a mentor for guidance through life’s challenges.
“I want to give back to those young people who are struggling to show life does get better and challenges become easier.”
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Laura, YMCA Bradford
“I am passionate about Y’s Girls and what we aim to achieve because I recognise myself in a lot of our girls.
“I had low self-esteem and confidence as a young person and there was nothing around to help me.
“My main goal as Project Coordinator is to have girls feeling good about themselves, feeling empowered and embracing who they are. I really love the diversity the project brings – our girls and volunteers are very different, each with individual strengths, struggles, views and ideas.”
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Kayla, YMCA St Helen’s
“I have a background in learning and development and working with young people of all ages.
“The unique thing about Y Mentoring is it covers all aspects of a young person’s life, such as emotional wellbeing, soft and social skills.
“I also enjoy finding creative ways to make sure programmes are accessible and engaging for everyone from all walks of life and providing on going support.”
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Allison, Central YMCA
“I have come on board to help make positive changes in young girls’ lives.
“My mission to empower young women with the ‘can-do’ attitude and help them to become the best version of themselves.
“Sometimes that’s all it takes for someone to believe.
“I am looking forward to seeing my mentors and mentees happy in the bond that they would have developed and seeing the change no matter how big or small the steps.”
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Ogechi, YMCA Heart of England
“It became important to me ensuring the young girls and women we support are able to benefit from the programme and overcome any challenges.
“The opportunity to coordinate support to empower a young person or young women to break barriers, improve their life experiences and achieve goals they want is one of the most rewarding aspects of the role.”
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Alyson, YMCA Lisburn
“I believe every young girl, and in fact, every young person, deserves to have someone in their corner providing that positive reinforcement to help them to believe in themselves.
“I know personally, as I have gotten older my confidence in who I am as a person and the value I bring has grown.
“I love that Y’s Girls tries to instil this into our young girls at an early age, so they know their worth and their circumstances don’t define them.
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Ceri, YMCA Cardiff Group
“Having an opportunity to support young women and girls with their mental health, self-esteem, empowering them to be confident and resilient and giving them a voice is something I feel very passionate about.
“The most rewarding aspect is seeing growth from when young women and girls are first referred to the end of their mentoring journey.
“They are so much happier in themselves and have a new-found confidence and friends from the project.
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The Y Mentoring programme has been made possible by generous funding from:
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport supports culture, arts, media, sport, tourism and civil society across every part of England — recognising the UK’s world-leading position in these areas and the importance of these sectors in contributing so much to our economy, way of life and our reputation around the world.
Benefact Trust exists to make a positive difference to people’s lives by funding, guiding and celebrating the work of churches and Christian charities; empowering the most vulnerable and giving people, communities and places a renewed opportunity to flourish.
