'In 2016, having trained hundreds of corporate volunteers in youth mentoring techniques I asked myself, why do young people not receive the same quality of mentoring that corporates receive?
'Elaine said that question gave birth to The Mentoring Lab'
Elaine has a BSc in Social Research and Caribbean Studies and has worked in the youth sector since 2000.
In 2000, she was with the first cohort of Learning Mentors placed in schools under the 1999 Excellence In the City Initiative, launched by the then Secretary of State for Education and Employment in 1999. Elaine knows just how difficult it can be to find professional youth mentors and practitioners who are skilled in supporting the progression of the most marginalised youth.
High-quality youth work and mentoring delivered to the highest standard is what Elaine stands for; she often says, 'Youth work and mentoring is more than having friendly conversations; it is a science'.
'When I was younger, I needed something like The Mentoring Lab, and unlike my peers, I was blessed to receive natural mentoring and guidance from a neighbour, between ages 16 - 18 she helped me get into University and turn my life around.
'The quality framework and resources I've designed, provide a solution to engaging the world's most marginalised youth, who tend to go into 'performance mode' with adults who are not from their community.
We want more youth and caregivers to 'trust' mentoring, and upskill mentors to make true long term impact with the world's most marginalised youth.
