“For many of the young people we work with, their mentor is the first healthy adult relationship they’ve had.”
This powerful quote, shared by a youth outreach worker at a local Bristol church, was one of many transformative testimonies shared during our recent mentoring convention. What it reveals is that the simple role that a coach, mentor or befriender plays – a trusted friend, a listening ear, and an encouraging word – for so many can be greatly redemptive and liberating.
Back in the summer, when we explored Bristol’s mentoring sector (find out more here) we found that whilst there’s a range of organisations in Bristol offering 1 to 1 mentoring, befriending or coaching to vulnerable individuals, they don’t tend to see themselves as a sector. It was spotting this gap in the market that prompted us to host our recent Mentoring Convention.