Volunteer Children's Mentor
Gain new skills, training and valuable experiences while supporting a child in your community!
As a mentor, you will be trained to deliver weekly 1:1 sessions for the duration of 12 months. You will help build confidence, resilience, and help your mentee manage feelings through a series of fun experiences. Whether you’re playing games or discussing goals, you’ll be making a difference in a child’s life by developing the tools for a positive future.
Mentoring a Little Londoner can help support your professional development, with 57% of mentors reporting the programme helped them progress in their career. We will support you to develop and enhance a wide range of transferable skills.
Where Mentoring Happens
Mentoring sessions take place across London in public spaces, such as parks, cafes, cinemas, or community spaces. When we are matching you, we will take into consideration your address to ensure it is easy and convenient.
Time commitment
- 1-3 hours a week for 1 year.
- Sessions can take place anytime outside of school hours
- Flexible around your schedule, between weekday evenings and weekends.
Our mentoring programme is centered around having fun! You will be working with your mentee to plan what activities you will be doing each week within sessions. Our pairs have done so many of the fun things London has to offer, from football to bubble tea, arts and craft to museums, you will take 1-3 hours out of your busy week to do something fun and fufilling and get to see the world from a childs eyes!
We also run quarterly mentor meet ups to allow you to meet and socialise with other mentors, in addition to group mentoring sessions where pairs come together and get to do something fun for free. Previous group mentoring sessions have been to the football, theatre & zoo, as well as arts and craft sessions.
Training, Support & Certificate
- 1 day initial training, covering safeguarding, mentoring basics, and how to make sessions fun and meaningful.
- Hours of additional free training throughout the year in webinars and online resources
- A Badge of Excellence Certificate in Child-Led Mentoring when you complete the programme.
- Year-long support from your Programme Manager (PM), who will guide you and answer any questions.
Skills and Experience you’ll Gain
- Project management & teamwork: Plan engaging sessions collaboratively with your mentee.
- Communication: Learn to adapt your style to a child’s needs, and communicate with a range of stakeholders (PM, child, parent).
- Professionalism & commitment: Attend 12 months of sessions, meet session report deadlines, and follow TKN policies.
- Working with children: Hands-on experience supporting children aged 8–11.
We are looking for enthusiastic, curious, and fun volunteers that are eager to learn new skills and support local children. The Kids Network will support you with valuable training and experiences that will enhance both your personal and professional development.