Welcome to More Than Mentoring
At More Than Mentoring, we believe in the incredible potential of young people. Our mission is to go beyond traditional mentoring, providing comprehensive support, guidance, and inspiration to help every individual thrive.
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1:1 Mentoring Sessions
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We believe in practicing a therapeutic, calm and transparent approach; Empathy, kindness and patience meets clear boundaries and expectations. We encourage and support growth within the young people we work with, to achieve positive, long lasting results.
1:1 support is both effective and important, and our 1:1 sessions are tailored to the needs of the mentee. At MTM we implement strategies and toolkits to instil confidence, self efficacy and the desire to make better choices, because when people see and eventually feel the benefit of them, they independently choose them. It is also important we measure each individual’s growth via regular reflective sessions and progress reports.
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Our mentoring style utilises a strengths based approach to work towards developing and improving a number of invaluable qualities and attributes which will benefit all young people throughout both their adolescence and their adult lives. Some of these include working on the following; thinking patterns & making positive choices, self reflection, goal setting and future planning, personal development, choices vs consequences, accountability, emotional intelligence, and self image.
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The primary goal at MTM is to create a brighter future. Synergy is welcomed, and we encourage a transparent and collaborative method to include and support everyone involved towards the desired outcome we will be working towards. We will always encourage people to achieve the most success possible for them, and we respect and acknowledge that everyone is unique, and so it is important to set realistic and achievable goals to instil confidence and motivate each individual to want to move forward and achieve more.
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We are here to make a positive impact, empower, and inspire the next generation.
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Schools and colleges
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Following many years of dedicated work within educational settings, we also provide support for schools and youth provisions. Our services aim to motivate, educate and inspire growth within young people.
Our group workshops, 1:1 mentoring sessions, and assemblies are designed to introduce, address and tackle a range of various challenges that can affect young people's mental and physical development. These challenges may include peer pressure, academic stress, self esteem issues, and involvement in crime. It is essential to provide extra support and guidance to the youth to help them navigate these challenges and emerge as confident, happy and resilient individuals. Through interactive discussions and presentations, our workshops and assemblies create a safe and non-judgmental environment for students to share their experiences, concerns and questions in a constructive way.
Early intervention can make a significant difference in the lives of those who need it. Our sessions are not only effective, but also necessary for improving mental health and well-being, and positively impacting the future of the youth.
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Carly Short,
Founder of More Than Mentoring
'My name is Carly, and I created More Than Mentoring because it is my passion to make a difference and help the youth discover their potential so they are equipped to move forward fearlessly, with enthusiasm and passion. As an empathetic person, I dedicate myself to supporting young people in recognising and nurturing their interests and skills, striving to help build towards healthy and fulfilling futures. My natural ability to encourage and connect with people has successfully and consistently inspired motivation and positive change over the years. More Than Mentoring serves as a vehicle for me to also transition into the private sector, which enables long-lasting results through a collaborative approach with caregivers also engaged in the intervention process.
As a single mother, I can relate to family struggles and emotional challenges as both an individual and a parent. I understand that nothing is black and white, people are complex and we all deserve to be heard, understood and supported. I am a passionate, driven and grounded person with a love and talent for guiding and helping people, and also teaching them how to eventually manage this independently. I am a solution focused individual, however I am patient and mindful enough to appreciate that each individual’s lived experience is unique and not everything has an imminent solution.
Over the past 15 years I have acquired extensive experience in behaviour management , support-work and mentorship, particularly with young people who have behavioural struggles and/or special educational needs. My approach involves implementing vital interventions that inspire change and self-belief, empowering and supporting these individuals as they transition into their teenage or adult years. My reputation for building strong relationships with those I work with has often led to me being the first point of contact for the most challenging cases and incidents at each of my placements.
During my career I have worked with a diverse range of individuals. My professional experiences have allowed me the opportunity to learn from and invest in young people from different family backgrounds, peer groups, with varying education levels and neurodiverse conditions. My expertise includes addressing and improving challenging behaviours fuelled from many difficult lived experiences, and mental health challenges. It has proved essential to implement innovative and creative activities, set tasks, and deliver apt tool-kits to support development when focusing on specific intervention.
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I began working with the youth when I taught dance classes in youth clubs, schools, stage schools and gyms in Kent, Essex and South East London. For a number of years following this I served as a special needs nanny where my experience included working with non-verbal children. These opportunities granted me invaluable skills and profound insight into the realities faced by the families I assisted, and taught me alternative methods of communication. I continued my career by pursuing 1:1 behaviour management in alternative provisions with children aged between 6 and 16 years old. Here I mentored students with special educational needs, and students who had been excluded from mainstream schools due to presenting with challenging behaviours. Furthermore, I delivered dance and drama sessions to these students as both part of their weekly learning, and also as a means of implementing incentive based approaches based on their individual talents and interests. Transitioning into a role with the Ministry of Justice as a Probation Officer, which I continue to do, I am dedicated to working with individuals on probation towards making positive life choices. My core responsibility is to provide support to mitigate recidivism by assisting individuals’ rehabilitation into society on a 1:1 basis, and sometimes alongside external agencies, to reduce re-offending and promote success and well-being within each individual. This background enriches my ability to connect with and guide the young people I work with. Finally, I have recently joined a Local Governing Body as a school governor, and I am both honoured and excited to start my journey supporting their wonderful primary school.
My belief in the potential of every individual underpins my success in achieving high turnaround rates. Drawing on my values, years of valued experience, and innate ability to empower and motivate others, I foster an environment of trust and openness. I am warm, approachable, and promote honesty with care and caution.
I am extremely proud of the work we do at More Than Mentoring, and am committed to providing valuable support to those who need it.'
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Lynne Short
'My name is Lynne Short and I have been a Designated Safeguarding Lead within early years educational settings for 12 years. I hold a crucial role in ensuring the welfare and safety of children.
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Some key responsibilities of my duties:
1. Policy Implementation: Ensuring that safeguarding policies and procedures are effectively implemented and adhered to within the setting.
2. Training and Awareness: Organising and providing training for staff on safeguarding issues, procedures, and their roles and responsibilities. This includes ensuring that all staff members are aware of signs of abuse or neglect and know how to respond appropriately.
3. Risk Assessment: Identifying potential risks to children's safety and well-being within the setting and taking appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.
4. Referrals and Reporting: Acting as the main point of contact for staff, parents, and external agencies regarding safeguarding concerns. I am responsible for making referrals to appropriate authorities, such as children's social services, when necessary, and for ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are documented and reported accurately.
5. Support and Guidance: Providing support and guidance to staff members who have concerns about a child's welfare or who require assistance in managing safeguarding issues.
6. Record-Keeping: Maintaining accurate records of safeguarding concerns, referrals, and any actions taken in response to these concerns.
7. Collaboration and Communication: Collaborating with other agencies, such as children's social services, health professionals, and law enforcement, as necessary, and communicating effectively with parents and carers regarding safeguarding matters.
8. Continuous Improvement: Continuously reviewing and updating safeguarding policies and procedures in line with best practice and legislative requirements to ensure that they remain effective and relevant.
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Overall, I play a vital role in creating and maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for children, where their welfare and well-being are paramount.'
Contact
Feel free to send us an email or fill out our form on the 'Contact Us' page!
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We are always happy to help.