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One Million Mentors

One Million Mentors (1MM) was a national initiative dedicated to transforming the prospects of young people by connecting them with a mentor. The project aimed to build a network of one million mentors to support young adults, helping them improve their skills and confidence, and help their access to the world of work.

Project information

£550,000

Grant amount

September 2016

Date awarded

January 2017 – November 2021

Project duration

London, Wales, West Midlands

Location

In partnership with:
One Million Mentors
Download the 1MM process evaulation

Project Detail

Project summary

Funded by Spirit of 2012 from 2017, One Million Mentors set out with a goal to scale its mentoring model across the UK. The project established strong partnerships with schools, colleges, youth organisations and city councils in locations across the UK.

Through a structured programme, 1MM provided support for young people navigating the challenges of education and employment. The project focused on building meaningful, one-on-one relationships with the aim of raising aspirations and broadening horizons.

1MM’s model was built on providing high-quality training and support for its volunteer mentors, ensuring they are well-equipped to guide their mentees. The programme helped young people improve their employability and develop personal effectiveness while expanding their social networks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1MM successfully pivoted to a virtual model, proving its ability to connect young people with mentors from anywhere in the UK and expanding its reach.

Impact & Learning

Young people taking part reported increases in confidence and wellbeing and a greater awareness of career opportunities.

Key learnings

  • Strong partnerships are essential for reach. Collaborating with local organisations like schools, colleges, and community trusts opened doors and enabled 1MM to connect with young people who needed support most.
  • Virtual mentoring creates vast opportunities. Moving online allowed mentors and mentees to connect regardless of location, breaking down geographical barriers and providing access to a wider range of expertise and experience.
  • High-quality training is key to success. Providing comprehensive training and networking opportunities for mentors ensured a consistent, higher-quality experience for young people, even as the programme scales.
  • Mentoring improves wellbeing for everyone involved. The programme demonstrated a clear link between mentoring and increased subjective wellbeing, not just for mentees but for the mentors volunteering their time.

2,500

mentor and mentee pairings

70%

of mentors

reported a sense of personal fulfilment and growth.

19%.

improvement

in the proportion of mentees who felt positive about their future

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