Volunteer Mentor

We are recruiting kind, empathetic and approachable volunteer mentors to support young people aged 12-26 who are living in supported accommodation or accessing our outreach programmes across Orkney.

Our mentoring programme encourages personal growth, builds confidence, develops social connections and supports young people to become involved in their communities.

Mentors are carefully matched with a young person based on shared interests and will provide consistent, positive encouragement and guidance.

Led by the young person’s goals and interests, mentoring sessions can include trying new activities, cooking together, exploring the local community or simply spending time with someone they can trust and rely on.

We are looking for reliable, friendly volunteers who enjoy connecting with others and are passionate about making a positive difference in a young person’s life.

What could a volunteer gain from the experience:
Volunteering as a mentor is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life while developing your own skills and confidence.

Volunteers will gain valuable experience in mentoring, communication, relationship building and supporting young people from a range of backgrounds.

You will have opportunities to build meaningful connections, meet new people, develop new skills through training and enjoy shared experiences and activities with your mentee.

Most importantly, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping a young person build confidence, develop independence and feel more connected to their community.

We are building a close community of mentors so you will have access to strong peer support and social opportunities with other mentors.

This opportunity takes place across Orkney, primarily within local community settings. Mentors and young people can meet in suitable community locations and take part in activities based on the young person’s interests and goals. Face-to-face meetings are encouraged to help build meaningful relationships, although virtual sessions can be arranged where needed.

Experience required

We are looking for kind, empathetic and approachable individuals who are passionate about supporting young people and making a positive difference in their lives.

Ideal volunteers will have good communication and listening skills, be patient, reliable and consistent, and enjoy building positive relationships with others.

You should feel confident engaging with young people from a variety of backgrounds and be open-minded, non-judgemental and respectful of individual experiences.

An interest in community activities and a willingness to try new experiences would be beneficial.

Previous mentoring experience is not essential, as full training and ongoing support will be provided. Most importantly, we are looking for someone who can offer encouragement, understanding and a friendly, supportive presence.

Training details

All volunteer mentors receive full training before being carefully matched with a young person. Training will help prepare volunteers for their mentoring role and provide the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to build positive and supportive relationships.

Our dedicated Mentoring Team will provide ongoing guidance and support throughout the mentoring journey, including regular check-ins and access to mentoring coordinators for advice and reassurance.

We aim to ensure every volunteer feels confident, valued and supported throughout their experience.

Restrictions

Minimum age: 18

Frequency & commitment

We aim to make volunteering as flexible and accessible as possible while encouraging regular, consistent contact to help build a positive mentoring relationship.

We encourage volunteers to commit to a year-long mentoring relationship to provide consistency, stability and the opportunity to build trust and meaningful connections with their young person.

I want to volunteer