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Mentoring Young People in Community Settings

29 April 2026

StreetGames recently delivered a Mentoring Young People in Community Sport course designed to equip youth‑focused volunteers and staff with the skills, confidence, and practical tools needed to mentor young people effectively within their communities.

A total of 17 candidates participated in the course, representing 10 different community partners across the region. The course aimed to build a consistent mentoring approach while tailoring delivery to the diverse needs of each organisations and the young people they support.

Youth organisations across the area report increasing demand for personalised support for young people—particularly those facing barriers related to mental health, anti-social behaviour, wellbeing, and social inclusion.

 

Community partners expressed a need for:

  • A shared understanding of what effective mentoring looks like
  • Practical techniques for building professional relationships
  • Structure for goal‑setting and motivational conversations
  • Greater confidence when working with young people experiencing challenges

StreetGames developed and delivered a tailored mentoring course to address these needs.

 

Course Objectives

The programme was designed to ensure participants could:

  1. Understand the core principles of mentoring in informal and community settings
  2. Build positive relationships with young people through active listening, empathy, and youth‑centred communication
  3. Use practical tools such as goal‑setting frameworks, session planning, and reflective practice
  4. Recognise safeguarding priorities, boundaries, and professional responsibilities
  5. Create supportive and inclusive environments that empower young people to thrive

 

Participants

  • 17 learners completed the course
  • Representing 10 community partners
  • A mix of paid staff, volunteers, youth workers, and sports coaches
  • Varied mentoring experience, from first‑time mentors to experienced practitioners seeking formal structure

This diversity enabled rich discussion and peer learning throughout the programme.

 

Impact

For Participants

Feedback highlighted that learners left the course with:

  • Greater clarity on their role as mentors
  • Increased confidence in working with young people
  • Practical tools they can apply straight away
  • Stronger links with other community organisations

Participants valued the real‑world focus and the chance to share experiences with peers.

 

For Community Partners

Organisations reported:

  • More structured, consistent mentoring support for young people
  • Better‑equipped staff and volunteers
  • Increased capacity to engage young people facing challenges
  • Stronger collaboration between partners

 

Conclusion

The StreetGames mentoring course successfully strengthened local capacity to support young people across diverse community settings. By bringing together 17 participants from 10 partner organisations, the programme built a shared foundation of mentoring knowledge while allowing each learner to apply the tools within their unique community context.

The result is a more confident, skilled network of mentors who are better equipped to guide young people towards positive outcomes.