Join 1000+ Trained Youth Mentors

Online Events

Whether you are new to youth mentoring or a seasoned practitioner, this series of online events will give you practical tools, evidence-based techniques, and real-world insights to strengthen your practice.

In just 45 minutes, each Zoom event explores a specific challenge faced by mentors working in business, education, social care, criminal justice, community and voluntary sector, providing clear, actionable guidance grounded in youth mentoring practice, coaching, and youth development research.

Delivered by Elaine, founder of The Mentoring Lab, a Black-led youth mentoring organisation with over 20 years of experience supporting young people to reflect, explore, reframe, and develop the qualities to succeed.

The Learning Journey

How learning happens in Youth Mentoring relationships

Youth Mentoring is more than conversation, it is a practice that creates the conditions for real, lasting change.

This opening session explores the science behind how young people learn within a youth mentoring relationship

Wed 10th June 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Neuro-affirming Youth Mentoring

Mentoring for young people who simply process differently

Young people who are neurodivergent are among those who benefit most from Youth Mentors who can adapt their mentoring style to genuinely affirm and support. We examine how to respond with empathy, without limiting mentees potential.

Wed 24th June 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Out of Line

How youth mentoring improves poor behaviour in the school environment

We know that poor behaviour is a signal for help. This session examines how youth mentors can work alongside schools to understand the root causes of disruptive behaviour to reduce conflict in and outside of the classroom.

Wed 8th July 2026 | Zoom | 6pm - 6.45pm

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Excluded Again

Mentoring students before, during and after school exclusion

School exclusion is one of the most significant predictors of long-term disengagement, involvement in the criminal justice system, and poor life outcomes. This session provides a practical roadmap for mentors working at every stage of the exclusion process, providing consistent support during this period of change.

Wed 15th July 2026 | Zoom | 6pm - 6.45pm

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Rooted Indentity

Supporting racial identity development in the youth mentoring relationship

We will give mentors the language, the confidence, to open and hold conversations about race and identity with any young person, regardless of the mentor's own background or the young person's ethnicity.

This is not a session only for mentors working with young people of colour, or only for mentors who share a young person's background. It's for every Youth Mentor.

Wed 7th Oct 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Who Am I?

Talking about race and racism in every mentoring relationship

We will address how racism, both direct and systemic, lands on young people across different backgrounds and why mentors who avoid the subject do not create neutrality, they create silence.

This is not a session only for mentors working with young people of colour, or only for mentors who share a young person's background. It's for every Youth Mentor.

Wed 14th Oct 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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The Power in the Room

Navigating trust, power structures and barriers in the mentoring relationship

This session addresses the structural and relational dynamics of power that shape every youth mentoring interaction, the weight of institutional power behind the referral, the ways that race, class, gender, and lived experience create or dismantle barriers.

Wed 21st Oct 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Between Us

Intercultural racism and how to address it through mentoring

This session addresses the reality of intercultural racism, prejudice, bias, and discrimination between communities of colour, between different ethnic and religious groups, and the specific tensions that arise when a mentor and mentee do not share the same background and carry different histories of harm.

Wed 28th Oct 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Top Boys! Part 1

Masculinity, misogyny and what boys actually need

We will examine why harmful ideas about masculinity take hold across all boys and what need those ideas are meeting. We will explore how mentors can challenge misogyny without triggering the defensiveness that pushes boys further in the wrong direction.

Wed 4th Nov 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Top Boys! Part 2

How to mentor boys involved in gangs and youth violence

Working with young people involved in or at risk of gang exploitation and youth violence is among the most complex and high-stakes work a mentor will undertake. This session provides an unflinching, grounded look at specific youth mentoring approaches that have been shown to make a difference.

Wed 11th Nov 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Girls! Part 1

Why mentoring girls requires a different approach

This session explores the psychological, social, and cultural factors that make mentoring girls a specialist area of practice. We look at how to create genuine psychological safety to help girls reconnect with their identity, values, and ambitions.

Wed 18th Nov 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Girls! Part 2

How to mentor girls involved in gangs and youth violence

We will examine why girls involved in gangs and youth violence can be missed by services. We will look at how to build enough trust with a girl and how to adjust your youth mentoring approaches without putting her at greater risk.

Wed 25th Nov 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Hard to Reach?

How to mentor a young person who doesn't want to be mentored

This closing session challenges the 'hard to reach' label entirely, arguing that when young people are consistently unreached, the question is not what is wrong with them but what the system has failed to offer. We give mentors the practical tools to build genuine rapport with a young person who has learned, through experience, not to trust adults.

Wed 2nd Dec 2026 | Zoom | 5pm - 5.45pm

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Outreach Youth Mentoring

Explore our range of outreach youth mentoring programmes and services, for schools, social services, criminal justice system and youth services.

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Person Centred

Outcomes Driven

One to One or Groups

Hybrid Offer

Youth Mentoring Resources

The Youth Mentoring Tool Kit comprises over 20 mentoring activities, coaching tools and leadership model for common barriers to progression youth face.

Explore the tool kit today. Each academy booking received a free print and downloadable copy.

Buy Now

Watch on YouTube

Why Choose Us

Our trainers have over 30 years of hands-on experience in transforming young lives. We have;

✅ Trained 1000 Youth Mentors worldwide
✅ Developed Youth Mentoring in Practice Standards
✅ Shaped industry standards and best practices
✅ Evidence-based resources and frameworks
✅ An extensive network of schools, asset led, voluntary and community organisations.

Youth Mentoring Training

Youth Mentoring Practice

Perfect for new volunteers and aspiring Youth Mentors

Duration: 1 day

Learn More + Book

Youth Practitioner Programme

For those wanting to become

Youth Mentor Practitioners.

Duration: 4 days

Learn More + Book

Peer Mentoring

Training to equip young people with key mentoring tools and techniques.

Duration: 2 half days

Learn More + Book

Testimonials

            
                                  "I found the organisation to be professionals proficient they are very capable of engaging a large group of young people from two different estates with varying demographics and a history of anti-social behaviour, they are also capable of working under minimal supervision to dynamically structured sessions where young people could come along to express themselves creatively in a safe and welcoming space."

                                    Siovhan Crombie - Hackney
                                
                                  "Elaine of The Mentoring Lab is the Opogo community expert providing a current and updated overview of mentoring, development sessions, blogs and webinars regarding working with young people and adults to prevent underachievement in their learning or careers. Her blogs are a fabulous read and integrate some great advice. Elaine, You're a fantastic writer! "

                                    S. Salmon - Opogo
                                
                                  "I was present when The Mentoring Lab ran an employability programme last year at Ingram Court. The teams' ability to engage the hardest to reach residents was extraordinary. There were some real measurable outcomes that came out of the programme and its structure was both beneficial in terms of raising aspirations and accessing resources coupled with being flexible enough to cater for individual needs. I would strongly recommend.
"

                                    S. Georgiou - Evolve Housing
                                
                                  "The Mentoring Lab has been responsible for the design and implementation of an extremely successful Summer Activities programme for Futureversity in Greenwich for the past two years. They have demonstrated great skill and determination to deliver a programme which has far exceeded the expectations of both commissioners and Futureversity."

                                    Opendoor Services - Opendoor Services
                                
                                  "I would like to start off by saying, a big thank you for my son who had received so much information! It was such a blessing and appreciate your time and effort. We took away much more than expected which motivates me and my son to continue using other services you may have to offer and to also let others know of the great work you and your team are putting in to help young teenagers be inspired, learning new skills, also confidence building to go on being a better version of themselves. Thank you. "

                                    Miss Seivwright - Parent
                                
                                  "I've had a really good experience and I think everyone should join as you can learn new things whilst having fun. All of the mentors are my favourite I can't pick because everyone is really nice!"

                                    Rahimah - 10
                                
                                  "I like taking part in the Mentoring Lab activities because it keeps me busy and I have learnt a few things over the lockdown period. Its helped me become more flexible with new situations and made me more confident speaking to people I may have not met before."

                                    Timi - 10
                                
                                  "I feel like I have had a good experience especially with lockdown, I have been given the opportunity to get help with things I can't do on my own. I have been provided with the resources to aid me with my studies that some of my friends did not have."

                                    Ivy - 14
                                
                                  "They are a delightful hardworking team who helps you with different aspects of learning and life in general. Personally I feel that it has helped me learn how to learn online and work ahead."

                                    Albert - 10
                                
                                  "Micayla is really enjoying being able to do something she loves during this challenging and difficult time. If the children are not able to return to school till September, I hope these classes will continue. Thanks again. "

                                    Lorna - Hackney parent

The Mentoring Lab Training and Development

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Shayanna D.

3 years ago

I have just finished a great Mentoring session with The Mentoring Lab. It was incredibly informative. I've left with a wealth oof information that I feel I can apply to what about to do. I feel confident that I understand the role of a mentor and that I can help that I will mentor work towards achieving their goals. A great course I'd recommend to anyone that is interested in taking mentoring seriously.

Judith M.

3 years ago

It was a fantastic training! We learnt many techniques and approaches.
I was impressed by the level of knowledge and experience of the trainer.

Micaela B.

3 years ago

I highly recommend Elaine's mentoring training, it has been very useful and I am sure it will reflect on my practice in a positive way.

Rachael B.

4 years ago

Best Mentoring Programme I have been on to date. Great practical resources and trainer Elaine was brilliant. Very clear, informative with tonnes of experience. Really enjoyed and would 100% recommend.

jessica M.

4 years ago

Thank you Elaine, your knowledge and passion was felt during the training session. I highly appreciate the information and tools shared and feel more confident in my current role in a youth mentoring charity.