MAPS Mentoring is one of over 150 mentoring projects across London to be awarded funding. MAPS Mentoring is also the only funded organisation dedicated to providing mentoring for young people in the London Borough of Sutton.
With this funding we are now able to substantially increase our mentoring capacity, and to provide dedicated mentoring support to 200 vulnerable young people in Sutton under a new mentoring pathway, Esteem24.
The key aim of Esteem24 is to increase feelings of safety for young people in Sutton, which will be achieved through a two-pronged approach. Firstly, Esteem24 will support young people at risk of criminal or sexual exploitation or victimisation leading to feelings of unsafety. This aspect of the pathway also aims to redress the gender imbalance created by violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Sutton. Esteem24 will also provide early intervention suicide prevention work by supporting young people struggling with their mental health and wellbeing.
Our own evidence from running MAPS Mentoring for over 25 years has consistently demonstrated the powerful impact that mentoring can have on a young person and the provision of the New Deal For Young People fund, exclusively dedicated to funding more mentoring for young people, is testament to this. We are honoured to be part of this prestigious programme embedding mentoring across London.
Mentors are recruited from all backgrounds and walks of life. They provide support and encouragement to children and young people at a critical stage in their lives, by listening to them, acting a role model, supporting their passions and inspiring their ambition. Sometimes just showing up is enough.
