No strangers here!

Impact: a mentor and mentee

By Gareth, KRAN Mentoring Project Coordinator

This Volunteers’ Week (2 to 8 June), seems a pretty good time to look at KRAN’s mentoring programme - and to appeal for more mentors!

Mentoring was the first project started by KRAN back in 2003 and over the past 22 years, it has gone from strength to strength.

Offering one-to-one support for young asylum seekers and refugees in east Kent, the key to its success are the mentors.

These volunteers help build a positive and supportive relationship with the young people, who are recently arrived in the UK.

They make a meaningful difference to the lives of their mentees - supporting them to build confidence with language, navigating local services, learning about UK culture, expanding their networks and achieving their personal goals.

At the same time, mentors gain valuable insight into different cultures and experiences and a deeper understanding of the systems affecting refugee and asylum-seeking young people.

From going for coffee, a walk, a trip to the seaside, or playing board games - no partnership looks the same. 

As Mentoring Project Coordinator, I'm able to consistently see the impact mentoring has on young people’s and mentor’s lives: building their confidence in different ways, learning about each other, getting to know the area and learning about how odd UK culture can be!

Mentoring offers not just an opportunity to affect the lives of young people, but to learn and grow.

If you can spare one-two hours a week for at least a year and are interested in getting involved, please contact Gareth at gareth@kran.org.uk. Or, please complete this form.

All mentors are given full training and ongoing support.