Case Study
Real connection, Real Progress
One young person’s mentoring journey
For one young person with autism and ADHD, mentoring with Serenity Youth Services helped him build a positive relationship, grow in confidence and start thinking about his future.
Real Connection
Finding the right mentor starts with understanding the young person as an individual. We took time to understand the young person's personality, interests, strengths and needs, helping to identify a mentor they could relate to and build a positive relationship with.
For this young person, that relationship became something particularly important. He came to look up to his mentor, and his parent noticed how often he spoke about him and how much he looked forward to their next session.
Real Connection.
Real Mentoring
The sessions were shaped around the young person's individual needs and interests, with creative activities providing different ways to engage, learn and express himself.
Activities included Lego, painting, making fidget toys and storytelling. These were more than just activities to fill the sessions. They gave him opportunities to develop his concentration, fine motor skills, communication and imagination, while also supporting social skills and emotional regulation.
By using activities he enjoyed, his mentor could encourage him to explore new ideas, develop practical skills and build confidence in his own abilities. The sessions also provided opportunities for conversation, helping the mentor understand more about his interests and what he wanted to achieve.
Real Mentoring.
Real Progress
As the relationship developed, his mentor began exploring the young person's interests, strengths and skills with him, helping him think about what he enjoyed and where these interests could take him.
Together, they started looking at possible career paths, including robotics engineering, product design and marketing. Rather than simply suggesting options, the mentor encouraged him to consider how his interests and abilities might relate to different careers and what he could work towards in the future.
This gave him the opportunity to think beyond his immediate interests and begin developing his own aspirations. His parent also noticed his growing confidence and a shift in the way he thought about his future, which was particularly encouraging to see. session.
Real Progress.
In Their Words
“The mentors really tailored their sessions to their needs and interests.
They kept talking about how much they looked up to their mentor and they couldn’t wait for their next session.
As the weeks went on, I noticed my young person’s confidence building and his focus shifting to what career path he would like to take, which the mentor also helped him with.”
Parent of a young person supported by Serenity Youth Services
Ready to Get Support?
We work with young people, their families and professionals to provide mentoring shaped around each young person's needs, interests and aspirations.
To find out more about our mentoring service or discuss a referral, please get in touch