Who we are
The Bromley Mentoring Initiative (BMI) is part of the London Borough of Bromley (LBB). Formed in 1999, we provide a multi-agency and borough-wide approach to mentoring children and young people Our volunteer mentors offer early intervention support and develop trusting relationships with young people who may be experiencing difficulties in their lives and want to make a change.
What we do
We coordinate a number of mentoring programmes aimed at making a difference to a young person’s life Referrals are accepted from a variety of agencies including:
Bromley primary schools (Year 6) LBB services (Social Care, Education Welfare Service, Virtual School, Personalised Education Service, Bromley Children Project, Youth Justice Service)
Bromley secondary schools (Years 7-13)
Specialist education provisions across the borough
Bromley Healthcare, Bromley Y, CAMHS, charities such as Living On Bereavement Service, Bromley Changes, Bromley & Croydon Women’s Aid
Mentor recruitment and training
BMI mentors are adult volunteers from the local community who are positive role models for young people. We recruit, train and support our volunteers throughout their mentoring journey. The recruitment process is rigorous and in line with Bromley Safer Recruitment and Keeping Children Safe in Education.
This includes:
LBB application form completed with full employment history
Interview with BMI programme leader to assess for suitability
A minimum of two references obtained
Training session attended
Safeguarding training completed and refresher completed annually
Right to work in the UK check
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, including a check on the children’s barred list, obtained through the LBB HR service
DBS checks are registered on the DBS update service and checked annually
www.bromley.gov.uk
What our mentors do
Our mentors generally meet with their mentees in school once a week for up to one hour. Our mentoring sessions operate on a one-to-one basis. Whether they engage in activities or discuss goals, our mentors give motivation, guidance and encouragement; their aim is to build their mentee’s confidence and resilience as well as develop the tools for a positive future. Our mentors are independent of the young person’s school and family and what they discuss is confidential (unless there is a safeguarding concern). Young people are shown to respond positively to this approach. Mentors can help mentees build confidence, improve their decisionmaking skills and become more resilient in the face of challenges.
A mentor can support a young person by:
Listening and asking questions to help the young person gain insight into their own thinking
Developing a trusting relationship and providing emotional support
Acting as a positive role model
Helping to develop life skills, social skills or communication skills
Supporting with learning and academic development
Giving an awareness of the world of work
Being there consistently!
BMI currently focuses on supporting young people who are:
SEND
Experiencing mental health concerns such as low-level anxiety, low confidence/self-esteem
Experiencing behavioural challenges and/or at risk of exclusion
Supported by a social worker, including children impacted by domestic violence or abuse, children looked after/care leavers
Supported by FSM or PP6
Young carers
www.bromley.gov.uk/mentoring
to build confidence to raise self esteem to improve life chances by overcoming feelings of isolation to develop communication, interpersonal and relationship skills to assist in recognising and developing potential and achievement of their goals to encourage the development of life skills
The referral process
When you make a referral to BMI, you are committing to working with us and being our point of contact, before and during any mentoring relationship with the young person.
The permission of the parent/carer needs to be sought by you, before you submit the referral to the programme. BMI does not have contact with the parents/carers of the young person The school takes on this responsibility
We ask that you talk to the young person about the mentoring programme and gain their agreement that they are happy to engage. In our experience, if this is not the case, the mentoring is unlikely to be successful. Our leaflet ‘What is Mentoring? A guide for young people’ is useful when talking to the young person
Once a referral has been processed by the BMI team, we will be in touch with further questions to ensure that we can tailor the match to meet the strengths and needs of the young person.
School support
After identifying a young person who might benefit from mentoring, there is a series of steps to be undertaken by the school, in collaboration with the BMI team and the mentor, to ensure the best possible chance of success.
Nominate a member of staff to co-ordinate and oversee the mentoring. This person could be pastoral staff, DSL or head of year. Senior management must provide visible support.
Ensure that all staff, including non-teaching staff, are aware of the programme. Mentoring sessions generally take place during lesson time so the pupil will be absent from class. Teachers need to be aware of the reasons for this.
Be responsible for providing the BMI team and mentor with relevant information about the young person
Attend the initial match meeting and provide the mentor and BMI programme leader with a short update before introducing them to the young person The day and time of the regular mentoring sessions will be agreed at this meeting.
Book a free room or a quiet area for the regular mentoring sessions, in proximity to others but where a private conversation can be held.
The BMI programme leader will share the mentor and school contact’s details so the school and mentor can liaise directly if a meeting needs to be cancelled or re-arranged for any reason. It is reassuring for the mentor to be able to talk to the school contact at least once every half term (even for five minutes). This gives the mentor an opportunity to mention anything that concerns them and is a chance for the school to share the impact the support is having on the young person.
The school contact will facilitate an annual meeting between a member of the BMI team and the young person where an evaluatio will be completed.
How long does mentoring last?
All mentoring relationships are set up on an individual basis with the needs of each mentee varying greatly. This makes it difficult to be precise about how long the support will last. We initially ask for one year’s commitment from a mentor to allow the relationship to establish in an unhurried manner. It is important that the ending of a mentoring relationship is well managed and we support mentors and schools with this.
Benefits for young people (mentees)
Raised self-esteem, self-concept and self-confidence
Increased motivation and encouragement
Improved interpersonal skills
Educational, career and personal advice and guidance
Improved problem-solving skills
Quotes from young people involved in the mentoring initiative
‘I just never came into school; I now understand why it is so important.’ Year 11
‘They have helped me to understand it is about choices, my choices.’ Year 10
‘My mentor helps me to get stuff off my chest which helps with my feelings. I used to have bad anxiety but now I feel so much more confident in everything that I do.’ Year 8
www.bromley.gov.uk
‘My mentor sessions help me to relax a bit which then helps with my behaviour, controlling my anger, dealing with stuff and talking to people around me. There was a time when I was getting into trouble a lot. My mentor has helped me to understand there are different ways to deal with situations.’ Year 7
‘Everything is better because I have a mentor.’ Year 7
secondary school but now I feel much more confident.
‘My behaviour at school has improved, I was getting detentions before but my mentor helps me focus, now I know what I want to do.’
Mentoring provides a supportive environment that fosters growth, reduces feelings of isolation and increases the likelihood of success at an early stage.
‘Everything is better because I have a mentor!’
