Academic Mentoring

The students who take part in our academic mentoring programme have been identified by schools or agencies (such as Child Youth and Family) as those who are struggling at school or who are at risk of disengagement.

Our mentors connect with the young people in places most suited to the young person and their needs – this could be in class, during school lunchtime, or at home. The educational component of the programme is based on “journeying with the young person”, and involves setting learning and achievement goals, additional tutorials, and one-on-one lessons.

There are a number of ways that young people may enter our academic mentoring programme:

• A school will get in contact with us, and ask us to work with the young person. The level of intervention is determined by the needs of the student and available funding (the school is responsible for finding funding).
• Referral from one of our funding partners (e.g. CYF, HealthWEST). These children and young people have funding attached.
• Referral from one of our partner agencies (e.g. Police, the Fono). Usually, children and young people come from families known to our funding partners, which means we are able to secure funding.
• A child or young person will be referred by their family. These are our hardest cases, as often the family has no money to pay, and the school has no funding or they believe they have other students with greater need of our service.