Peer Mentoring

Support and training for young people

The Peer-Mentoring project, run by the OPEN Project provides peer-mentoring opportunities for care-experienced young people aged 14-25, as well as disadvantaged young people identified to be at risk of social isolation/exclusion and those affected by inequality and trauma. Young people aged 16-25 are trained to become peer mentors to provide support and guidance. The Mentors and Mentees are matched together based on sharing similar backgrounds, experiences and interests. The young people build a meaningful and trusting relationship to support the mentee to develop a positive pathway. Partners can refer young people to OPEN for the project.

The peer mentoring sessions take place in a safe, comfortable, and informal environment for mentors to meet with mentees. In addition to the group and one-to-one mentoring provided to the mentees, they receive a tailored support and development plan; which identifies their skills and personal goals, in agreement with the mentee, and a timeline, which set out how to achieve their goals with the appropriate level of support.

The project links to our ‘People’ and ‘Place’ priorities, and it is hoped that as a result of this project, more people in Shetland will feel part of their community and go on to positive destinations. With employment opportunities and professional development coming out of the project, this also contributes to people accessing employment and training in innovative ways designed to minimise the barriers to involvement for all.