Lynn's Story
When Lynn was first signposted to The Island, she wasn't entirely sure what to expect. However, over time, it became clear that what their son received went far beyond anything that she could have imagined.
Emma's Story
Emma began her journey with The Island as a volunteer mentor in 2017 while studying at the University of York. She used the skills and experience she gained whilst working at the charity to strengthen her application for clinical psychology training, the field she now works in eight years later.
“You really don't need to have all the answers to provide meaningful support for someone” - Emma’s Story
Emma began her journey with The Island as a volunteer mentor in 2017 while studying at the University of York. She used the skills and experience she gained whilst working at the charity to strengthen her application for clinical psychology training, the field she now works in eight years later.
During her time with The Island, Emma mentored a young person aged 10-years-old who had recently experienced a bereavement and was seeking someone to talk to outside of his immediate family.
Through a genuine connection, consistency and support, Emma provided a safe space for him to open up and grow in confidence.
Now working professionally in the field, Emma has recently been reflecting on her time at The Island and how that first mentoring relationship remains a deeply rewarding experience that continues to impact her life today.
Emma tells us just how important her time at The Island was for both her, and the young person she worked with.
Building trust through authenticity and consistency
“I learnt at first it was really about being present, consistent and genuine during the first few weeks so we could really get to know each other.
Gradually, we found shared activities that allowed us to laugh together and build our connection further. Over time, I saw that he could open up more and more, and we could talk about those important things.
It was really encouraging to see their confidence build, that was the rewarding part for me.”
“Through mentoring I found that young people really value authenticity. When you open your personality with them, they feel like they can do that with you.
Consistency is so important too. That can have a bigger impact than you might expect.”
Personal growth
“Initially, I was worried about saying the right things, but really, it's the small things like showing up, being on time and listening properly, that's what really matters.”
“The big thing I learnt from my time mentoring was that young people have a lot more going on under the surface than you might initially see.
It is so important to be able to listen without judgement about what's going on with them. It's about meeting them where they are, rather than where we hope or expect them to be for someone their age or in their circumstances.
I learnt working with young people is about working at their pace, not trying to put too much pressure on them too quickly and instead focusing on making that connection.”
A really rewarding experience
“The favourite memory I have with the young person I worked with was when we went to an outdoor play park. It was a big moment for us and something that we had planned for weeks. We did some imaginative playing together, he was really into transformers at the time, and we just played for an hour.
It was so joyful to step into his world and follow his lead. That day was a real credit to how much their confidence had grown that he was able to do that with me”
“If I was to give advice to anyone thinking about becoming a mentor with The Island, I would say go for it. You don't have to have all the answers or know everything about working with young people. You just need to be willing, kind and show up consistently for someone.
It can be daunting at first, but if you focus on building that connection in creative ways and trust the process, the impact you can have on a young person's life is really rewarding.”
Whilst you're here, why not read these stories too?
Laurence's Story
Laurence serves as the Chair of Trustees at The Island and alongside his time spent in his leadership role, he has personally mentored three young people through the charity.