1MM and NCS announce mentoring scheme for 15-17 year olds
We've partnered with One Million Mentors (1MM) to launch a unique mentoring scheme to support the career development of young people. Learn more.
Founded by Rushnara Ali MP and Alveena Malik, 1MM aims to improve young people’s life and employability chances, and strengthen local communities.
The scheme works by pairing up mentees with mentors from a diverse range of sectors and backgrounds, offering young people one-to-one mentoring so that they can gain the knowledge, networks, skills and confidence they need to succeed.
As part of the 1MM/NCS partnership, the 12-month scheme will match 400 mentees, aged 15-17, with 400 mentors from across Greater Manchester, East London and the West Midlands.
Research conducted by 1MM prior to young people embarking on mentoring found that 78% were unsure or didn’t know how to go about getting the experience or training they need to get the job or qualification they want. One in two young people also reported feeling some level of anxiety.
1MM CEO and Co-Founder Alveena Malik said: “One Million Mentors is excited to be partnering with NCS in order to scale up the provision of wrap-around mentoring support to diverse young people, post pandemic and in the midst of a cost of living crisis. We believe that this partnership, through the support of trained mentors who will act as trusted adults to build confidence and signpost to local opportunities, will boost the ability of more young people to be work ready and world ready.”
Mark Gifford, CEO of NCS Trust said: “NCS is extremely proud to be working with 1MM on this unique mentoring programme. This scheme will boost young people’s employability opportunities and also introduce them to what NCS has to offer - improving their confidence, equipping them with the skills they need to be world ready and work ready, and broadening their horizons by mixing with people from all walks of life.”
To date, 1MM are approaching 4,000 mentees who will have been connected to a mentor, and over half of mentees are considered to be from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds.
To find out more about 1MM, please visit onemillionmentors.org.uk
For more information, please contact the NCS Press Office – email pr@ncstrust.org.uk or call us on 020 3920 8576.
Notes to Editors
About One Million Mentors (1MM)
One Million Mentors (1MM) is a unique community-based mentoring programme, quickly growing roots around the UK. The aim is to transform young lives by connecting one million young people with one million mentors. This ambitious programme backs the talents of young people to improve their career chances while at the same time strengthening local communities. 1MM was founded on the belief that through personal, one-to-one mentoring, more young people can grow the knowledge, networks, skills and confidence they need to succeed.
1MM works with youth partners to provide mentoring opportunities to young people living in some of the most deprived areas in Greater Manchester, Cardiff Capital Region, the West Midlands, and East London.. The young people we reach have high potential but low social capital – that is, limited access to social networks and relationships that will help them to fulfil their potential.
Mentoring can provide a much-needed, though currently undervalued, intervention which links individuals with high social capital to young people who have low social capital, in an effort to accelerate social mobility. Through the provision of trained volunteer mentors from within the business world and community, 1MM boosts support and advice for young people in the areas of education, employment and social action.
Our Ambition
1MM’s ambition is to ensure that every young person in the country has access to a trained mentor as they transition into adulthood. We anticipate an increase in young people’s well-being, confidence, personal effectiveness, employability skills and social networks and, as a result, increased social mobility and social cohesion through higher levels of employability.
Through our innovative online platform and personalised mentoring, young people are connected with an ever-growing network of businesses and professionals. 1MM harnesses and shares the experience and expertise of local leaders to provide one-on-one, structured support and opportunities to young people to improve their social networks and employability prospects.
We work with mentors and mentees from diverse backgrounds and our ambition is to connect people across differences to engage in meaningful relationships, challenge perceptions and widen horizons.
One connection, one regular conversation… One life changed.
To find out more please visit https://onemillionmentors.org.uk/
To learn more please visit our LinkedIn and listen to our Podcast ‘One in a Million’
Follow our socials : Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
About NCS (National Citizen Service)
NCS is an experience like no other. Designed for 16-17 year olds, and for young people (aged between 18 and 24) with special educational needs and disabilities, NCS runs year round and offers a range of experiences for young people throughout the year. Teens get the opportunity to mix with a new crowd, learn about independent living, take on new challenges and build friendships.
The programme is all about emboldening young people – by giving them a taste of independence and equipping them with essential work and life skills.
NCS participants will benefit from a new residential experience from 2023, which will consist of a five day stay away from home where they will take part in activities that centre around employability, independent living or social action. Young people will have access to digital experiences and will be able to take part in NCS closer to home with regular one-off activities where they can gain new skills, learn more about their local community, and how they can help to improve it.
Since 2009 more than 700,000 young people have taken part in NCS, completing over 15 million hours of community action, and gaining priceless life experiences.
NCS offers bursaries and support to those who need it most, including families on Universal Credit and young people with special educational needs or disabilities, in line with its commitment to make the life-changing NCS experience available to every young person.
NCS delivers value for money. £3.05 of benefits to society for every £1 spent. During lockdown NCS has had over 1.7 million unique engagements with teens through its ‘Staying Connected’ hub.
About NCS Trust
NCS Trust is an Arm's Length Body of DCMS incorporated by Royal Charter and established to shape, support, champion and lead a thriving National Citizen Service.
National Citizen Service Trust is registered in England and Wales with Royal Charter Body number RC000894.
To learn more about NCS Trust visit LinkedIn
To find out more visit wearencs.com
Visit NCS social media platforms on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
