and what a good mentee looks like to us (honesty and commitment) so that we can be a good role model and shape a relationship that works for both parties. We combine quality 1:1 mentoring with compassionate but consistent behavioural boundary setting to reduce conflict, promote healthier futures, utilise strengths and reduce any repetitive patterns of disengagement both in and outside of school.

Hello, I’m Dwayne. My life experiences growing up in a tough area of Birmingham around young people experiencing complex and multiple issues and challenges provides me with the ability to build relationships and bonds with mentees that others may find difficult to achieve. They relate to my journey and trust me as a positive role model, to guide them, knowing that I have experienced many of the issues, pressures and barriers they are facing.

I support approximately 100 children and young people each year and in 2020 I led on 3 projects, working for the West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner delivering early intervention and violence reduction programmes, supporting those identified as at risk of being drawn into gangs and violence.

I’m also a qualified Sports Therapist (BSc) and keen sportsman, which brings an exciting dimension as I can combine a range of sporting techniques with mentoring, diverting negative thoughts and behaviour into positive activities. I encourage mentees to engage in the life-changing benefits that physical activities can provide, enabling them to achieve outcomes that others may have considered impossible.

Hello, I’m Hannah, an experienced Mentor and Youth Worker.  For over 7 years, I have specialised in working with girls and young women aged 4-18 years, including many with care and/or support needs.  I support mentees towards improved mental health and self-esteem through trauma-informed group and 1:1 intervention.

I’m passionate about empowering young people and ensuring they have the best possible life chances. My areas of expertise include low self-esteem, self-harm, mental health, anxiety, depression, ASD, CSE, abuse, gender and identity, adverse childhood experience, career-related learning and transition from primary school to secondary school.

Hi, I’m Damien, Crime Prevention Speaker.

In 2019 I was released from prison following a thirteen-year sentence. I share my story to prevent others from entering the criminal justice system and making the same mistakes I did.  As a child, I made some poor choices and my participation in low-level crime soon escalated into gang affiliation. One day, I made a decision that would have devastating consequences and changed my life forever.

I grew up in a loving household with a strong support network around me. I had high aspirations, a promising future ahead of me with everything to live for; but I became attracted to a negative culture that could offer me money, the latest clothes, trainers and credibility. What I didn’t realise, was that with this lifestyle I  would become trapped in a world I didn’t know, I found myself taking risks I would never have considered before.

Whilst in prison, I knew I had to use my time to reform, to learn and to work towards saving other young people from embarking on a journey that they would regret. I worked hard on my education and training and became a qualified Mentor and Youth Worker, Personal Trainer and achieved a BA Hons in Sport and Fitness.

I now specialise in the prevention of gang recruitment, knife crime and exploitation workshops. I am now a fully rehabilitated ex-offender with the desire and capability to change the lives of people who are tempted by or are already involved in criminality.

My role is to ensure quality procedures, standards, specifications and customer requirements are achieved across the mentoring programme. My responsibilities are to ensure all mentors have a clear understanding of systems, procedures and best practices to ensure that all safeguarding and safety needs are met and that training is regularly carried out for continuous improvement across the team. I analyse the Outcomes Star reporting to see what is working well and where young people are on their journey. I support the mentors to agree which areas they will be working on with the mentees and how they are going to approach them. We meet at regular points to assess the stars which helps give a clear picture of what is working well and where things can still be improved.

I’m passionate about creating an inclusive environment where young people and their families are valued and never discriminated against. Health and well-being is an integral part of young peoples’ emotional, mental, social and spiritual health. Every young person is unique and I ensure that our mentoring programmes reflect this. We use an asset-based approach in our support, building on the strengths and capabilities the young people already possess, including those excluded from school or at risk of exclusion. Mentors play an instrumental part of the development of their mentees, helping them to understand and reflect on their journey and enabling them to reach their true potential and improve their life chances both in and outside of school.