Applying to become a mentor
How can I apply to become a Plusone mentor?
In order to become a Plusone mentor, you must complete the Mentor Application Form and participate in a one-to-one interview with your local Plusone team. The order is up to you, if you are ready to apply today you can complete the online Application Form or contact your local Plusone team in order to organize a meeting and fill out the form in person.
After the application form, is any other documentation required?
Yes. During the interview, you will be required to submit three references as well as a copy of your c.v.
What happens after the interview?
The Plusone staff will contact you to let you know if you have been chosen for the volunteering position. If you are selected your references will be checked and will have to complete a criminal background check. Following these verifications you will again be contacted by the Plusone staff, provided you have passed both the reference and criminal background checks you will be invited to attend mentoring training.
What is the Plusone mentor training?
The training is designed to prepare you for the task of being a mentor, in particular for the youth that are referred to Plusone. In all, the training lasts about 6 hours, and is usually divided into two or more sessions. Sessions are scheduled differently in each community but are generally done in the evenings and on weekends. Trainings are organized periodically throughout the year according to need based on the pool of new mentors.
Who will I mentor?
You will be matched with a youth from your community, aged 10 to 17, with whom you share interests and/or other commonalities. All mentors are given the opportunity to specify any preferences they might have regarding their mentee.
How long does it take to get matched?
This is an aspect that varies and depends on a number of factors. The Plusone staff does their utmost to create matches that they believe will be successful. So, it is a question of finding a young person that you will be able to engage with seamlessly and with whom you share common interests. This largely depends on the pool of youth who have been referred to the program.
How long does the mentoring last?
On average, the mentoring relationship lasts roughly 12 months. The Plusone program model allows for participation ranging from 9 to 15 months depending on how the youth progresses.
How will mentoring affect my schedule?
The Plusone program model asks for weekly mentor-mentee meetings, which last for 2 to 3 hours, for the first 6 months of the program cycle. After the 6-month mark, mentoring meetings progressively decrease in frequency as the youth begins their transition out of the program by replacing mentoring activities with other pro-social activities in their community.
Where do the mentoring meetings take place?
Mentoring meetings typically take place in your local YMCA, to which both mentor and mentee are provided with a free membership for the duration of their stay in the program. For more information on the locations in your community contact the local Plusone team.
What will we do during the mentoring meetings?
That is up to you and your mentee. The two of you have access to everything the YMCA has to offer (fitness classes, sport and recreational facilities, spaces to relax, etc.). There will also be group activities organized by the Plusone staff, and the opportunity to invent your own activities, including cooking, arts and crafts, music and more. The activity is a vehicle to facilitate the development of the mentoring relationship through which Plusone seeks to affect change in the youth’s life.
What if I am not ready to become a mentor?
Anyone can become a mentor; all we ask is that you provide a positive role model to the youth who need it most. You will not be expected to be a social worker or any kind of savior, your role is to support the youth in their own development. It is essential to remember that you will be participating in a mentor training program. Moreover, you will be assigned a program Support Worker who is responsible for accompanying you throughout your time in the program, making sure you have all of the tools you need to succeed while supporting you in the process from day one.
Why should I become a mentor?
Because every youth could use a mentor, and too many have none. As a Plusone mentor, you will offer your mentee the guidance, the support, and the care needed to help them counter the negative influences present in their lives.