Mind Maze Mentoring Project 

What is the aim of the project?

The aim of the project is to help people who have experienced or are experiencing mental health problems to move forward in their lives.  This is achieved by providing one to one mentoring support.  In the borough of Stockton we work with people aged 16+, in the borough of Middlesbrough we provide support to carers.

What is mentoring?

There is no universally agreed definition of mentoring.  However mentoring for us is a supportive relationship, or partnership, that helps people to look forward in their lives and achieve agreed goals.  In this relationship the mentor provides the support and the mentee receives the support.

How does this work?

We recruit suitable volunteers who then undergo mentoring training with us.  We also do reference and Criminal Records Bureau checks.  Once trained we then look to match mentors to mentees.  Our mentees can be referred into the service by other services or people can refer themselves.  People do get a choice of who they would like to work with.  We review the progress of mentoring partnerships on a regular basis to make sure that people are getting the support that they want.

What are the benefits for mentees? 

You will:

• Receive a friendly person-centred service
• Receive support from people who will listen, encourage and motivate you
• Feel more confident
• Increase choice in your life
• Become more involved in your community
• Learn new skills
• Learn how to overcome problems

Receive a friendly person-centred service

Receive support from people who will listen, encourage and motivate you

Feel more confident

Increase choice in your life

Become more involved in your community

Learn new skills

Learn how to overcome problems

What are the benefits for Volunteer Mentors?

You will:

• Achieve a sense of well-being by doing something worthwhile and putting something back into the community
• Receive ongoing training and gain a nationally recognised qualification in mentoring
• Learn new skills
• Receive regular support
• Improve your confidence through new experiences

Other things we do

As well as the one to one support we also do some things as a group, this is optional.  Examples of things that we have done over the last year are:

• Health walks
• Cycle rides
• Other health related activities such as 10 pin bowling, crazy golf and orienteering
• Educational and cultural visits
• Social group meetings

We also produce a quarterly newsletter which you may want to contribute to; our most recent edition can be downloaded from the website.

How do I join the project?

To receive support form the project you must be aged over 16 and live in the Borough of Stockton or if you are a carer and live in the borough of Middlesbrough we can also support you.  We consider you to be a carer if you provide practical and/or emotional support to a relative, friend or neighbour who is disabled, ill or frail or has substance misuse problems.

To volunteer you must be aged 18 or over and have a positive approach to working with people with mental health problems.  Previous experience in this area is not essential but we would expect our mentors to be reliable, trustworthy, tolerant, show patience, be enthusiastic and have an enquiring mind.

I’m interested what do I do now?

If you want to receive support from the project or would like to enquire about volunteering as a mentor please get in touch by emailing us at maze@middlesbroughmind.org.uk or by telephone on 01642 633525.

If you are a referrer you can download the referral form and then email or mail it in to us.