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For Schools

Free 1:1 Mentoring for Young People

At YMM, we partner with schools to provide free, in-school mentoring that supports young people’s mental health and emotional well-being. Our experienced mentors offer a safe, confidential space for students to talk, to be listened to in a non-judgemental environment and to reflect, and grow.

What We Offer

We provide weekly 1:1 mentoring sessions, free of charge, for students who may be struggling with:

  • Anxiety or low mood
  • Anger management or behavioural challenges
  • Body image concerns
  • Bullying
  • Low confidence or self-esteem
  • Exam stress
  • Setbacks in relationships such as family or friendship
  • Self-harm
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Gender dysphoria

Our mentors work closely with school pastoral teams and, where appropriate, signpost and collaborate with external mental health professionals to ensure the most appropriate holistic support.

Our Mentors

YMM mentors are selected for their innate connection with young people and their genuine commitment to making a positive impact to young people’s lives. Each mentor:

  • Completes our bespoke training programme
  • Is enhanced DBS-checked (including barred lists)
  • Receives annual safeguarding training
  • Participates in ongoing CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to meet emerging needs
  • Has monthly 1:1 supervision with a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited practitioner to ensure quality care for students, adherence to ethical guidelines and ongoing professional growth for the mentor. It also provides a space for reflection on practice and managing challenging situations.
Meet our mentors >

How It Works

  1. Get in Touch
    Email us at info@ymm.org.uk to discuss mentoring options for your school.
  2. Referral
    Once your school is on board, we’ll ask for a referral form to be completed by the school or parent.
  3. First Session
    Our mentor will introduce themselves, explain how mentoring works (including confidentiality and safeguarding), and begin building rapport with the student.
  4. Ongoing Support
    Weekly sessions continue, with the mentor offering guidance and support tailored to the student’s needs and goals.
  5. Review & Next Steps
    At the end of the mentoring period, the mentor will review progress with the student and the pastoral team where necessary, and will discuss next steps.

YMAX

YMAX is our student-led initiative for young people in Years 7–13, designed to build self-esteem, confidence, leadership, and life skills whilst promoting mental health awareness, wellbeing and community engagement and action.

What YMAX Offers

YMAX aims to run both in-school and out-of-school sessions, giving students the opportunity to take part in:

Life Skills Workshops

Interactive sessions focused on, but not limited to:

  • Building confidence and self-esteem
  • Communication and decision-making
  • Resilience and emotional well-being
  • Presentation Skills
  • Leadership
  • Financial Management
  • First Aid 
  • And more

Peer Mentoring

Older students are trained to support younger peers through:

  • One-to-one buddying
  • Active listening and guidance
  • Creating a safe, confidential and supportive school culture

Entrepreneurship & Enterprise

Students plan and run small business projects, often in collaboration with local businesses. These projects help develop:

  • Financial literacy
  • Teamwork and project management
  • Real-world problem-solving
  • Thinking outside the box
  • Taking calculated risks
  • Proactive, critical and creative thinking

Mental Health Awareness

Ambassadors learn how to:

  • Recognise signs of mental health challenges
  • Look after their own wellbeing
  • Support others and signpost to help when needed
  • Reduce the stigma associated with mental health

Bring YMAX to Your School

Are you interested in bringing our student-led initiative YMAX to your school? Let us know by getting in touch: