Mentor news

June 2026

Our primary mentees and practitioner team had a great day out at Jamie’s Farm during the May half term.

With the support of the amazing team up on the farm, we herded and marked sheep, fed the goats and even did some log chopping. It was a great opportunity for our young people to spend time in nature, learn some new skills and connect with their peers.

Thanks to Jamie’s Farm for inviting us along for such a fun-filled day – the memories created will likely stay with our young people (and us) for a long time to come. We hope to return soon.

May 2026

This month, we were thrilled to welcome a new cohort of volunteers to our mentor training at Riverside. Training is the first step in becoming a volunteer mentor, and covers everything from mentoring techniques to safeguarding. 

Everyone was so engaged, and the feedback about both sessions was overwhelmingly positive, with most rating our training 10/10! 

With young people already waiting to be matched and more set to join us very soon, we are so happy to have trained such a brilliant group. After background checks and an informal interview, we'll carefully match them with their mentee, supporting them every step of the way. 

Do you know someone who could join us for mentor training in October? Get in touch with us to let us know!

April 2026

During the Easter holidays we took a group of primary aged mentees for a lovely sunny golf session at Fosseway Golf Club in Midsomer Norton. Most of the children had not played golf before and, after a little practice in the nets, were made up when they managed to drive a ball down the fairway and sink a 10 foot putt!

Thanks to the club members who were brilliant offering their guidance and encouragement on the beautiful and peaceful course. We definitely saw confidence, resilience and skills developing in the budding young golfers.

Knocking a ball around a golf course always gives opportunities for some great conversations, time to check in and plenty of fun. All good mentoring practice! Fosseway Golf Club will be open to support mentoring pairs who would like a round of golf.

March 2026

Come along to our next mentor social on Tuesday 31st March, 6.30pm – 8pm at Riverside. Our socials are always a lovely chance for volunteers to get together and catch up about their mentoring experience. Maybe you can re-connect with some of the mentors who you trained with?

February 2026

Ruth Keily (CEO) had a lovely time meeting the Fosseway Golf Club committee who were celebrating the £2,700 they raised for Mentoring Plus at their recent golf day.

A huge thank you to the club who have not only raised money for us, but who have also kindly offered for mentoring pairs to use their club house space to play games for free and have offered golf tuition for mentoring pairs. Please contact your practitioner for more info.

January 2026

Many places in BANES or the local area are happy to provide Mentoring Pairs with a discount if you ask them. I always think that if you don't ask then you don't get! Show your mentoring ID card and explain you are a volunteer mentor working for a local charity and many places will offer you a discount.

Here are some places that currently offer us discount when showing your ID badge (I will keep adding to this list each month): 

• American Museum - Bath (free entry for mentoring pairs)

• Alice Park Café - Bath (discounted drinks)

• Boom Bar Café - Bath (free use of Pool table when buying a drink- please call them to check availability) 

• Bath Cheese Company - Bath (% off the bill)

• Victoria Falls Adventure Golf - Bath (mentor goes in for free as a carer)

• Frankenstein Museum - Bath (mentor goes in for free as a carer)

• Free tennis court access: Alice Park (Bath), Sydney Gardens (Bath) or Keynsham. Contact your practitioner to book, but please give as much notice as you can)

• We The Curious Museum - Bristol (free entry). Contact lou.welch@mentoringplus.net to book with as much notice as you can to ensure ticket availability.

• Fosseway Golf Club - Radstock - (free round of golf and use of club house). Contact your practitioner to organise this.

Let us know if you hear of anymore!

December 2025

Our Big Give campaign, Side by Side, concluded on Tuesday 9 December, successfully raising an incredible £20,100 for our Volunteer Mentoring Programme.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated and helped spread the word. Special thanks to our volunteer mentors, Mark, Ron, Charlotte and Philip, who recorded heartwarming videos with their mentees to support the campaign.

If you supported Side by Side, please do take a moment to read a special thank you message from our CEO, Ruth Keily, on our website.

November 2025

Walk to the highest point in your area. Where is the highest vantage point local to you? What do your surroundings look like from the top and how many steps, metres or miles does it take to reach the highest point?
 
Create a picture using nature. Get creative using anything natural you can gather on your walk and make a picture. Leaves, twigs and feathers all make interesting new shapes and textures.
 
Find faces or human shapes in nature. This is called Pareidolia. As you walk, look up into the sky and the clouds could be making shapes or find faces in gnarly trees and roots! Take pictures of, or draw what you see.

October 2025

We held mentor training for a new cohort of volunteer mentors at the start of the month. It was great to have the opportunity for mentors to explore boundaries within mentoring and this generated plenty of discussion. Our new mentors are looking forward to being matched with a young person soon.

Our next volunteer mentor training will take place in January. If you know anyone who would like to find out more about volunteering with us, please ask them to contact Chris Hart.

September 2025

Back in the spring, a group of mentors and staff chose to take part in a series of workshops as part of a research project with the University of Bath. The workshops looked at the power of Positive Discipline and how it could be used to support mentoring sessions.
 
This month saw most of the group back together to reflect on their experiences. It was inspiring to hear how the workshops had changed the way people approach mentoring, and life in general. As the group reflected it was clear that there had been personal journeys which reminded us of the power of patience, active listening and that growth comes through connection.
 
We are looking forward to seeing the analysis of the data that was collected and celebrating the impact of the project.

August 2025

Save money from your monthly budget and visit Riverside with your mentee to borrow some games or art and craft materials to use in your mentoring sessions. Speak to your practitioner about arranging a time to come on down. 

July 2025

On a warm June evening, we hosted our annual Marvellous Mentoring Plus Quiz Night in the sunny garden at Riverside. We kicked off with a delicious chilli supper, followed by a lively quiz featuring 11 enthusiastic teams. Our quizmaster, Philip, kept the questions coming, with Rachel and Ruth expertly managing the scoreboard. Congratulations to The Pacemakers, who clinched victory by just a few points to become this year’s winning team!

We’re pleased to share that the evening raised £935, which will go directly towards supporting our Volunteer Mentoring Programme.

June 2025

A few weeks ago, we braved the rain for a brilliant day at Bath City Farm.  Eight of our amazing primary mentees spent the day making furry and feathery friends, building dens and campfires, sharing stories and marshmallows!

We chatted about the big move to secondary school, shared stories, had lots of fun, and - supported by our team - our young people left feeling lighter and happier, with 10/10 scores at our wellbeing check-out. Huge thanks to the brilliant team at Bath City Farm for hosting another unforgettable day.

May 2025

Our weekly activity sessions run during term time on Wednesday (Art Club) and Thursdays (Open Access Youth Club) and are free for young people to attend.

If your mentee is interested in coming along to either of the activities please let your practitioner know. If you would like to come along with your mentee to introduce them to it, we’d love to see you; just let your practitioner know.  

April 2025

This Easter we took a bunch of primary mentees for a game of golf at the beautiful Fosseway Golf course near Bath. The weather was on our side and with the amazing support of some of the club members, we all enjoyed a sunny nine holes. We broke off into small teams to play a game called ‘Texas Scramble’ – a great competition where all players had the chance to have a go at some longer drives, chipping and careful putting.  

All the children loved the session, saying how they valued the calm open space, getting some exercise, learning something new and having a bit of fun. This was the first time we have done a group golfing activity for the primary mentees and we will definitely be back. Massive thanks to Fosseway Golf Club for hosting us. Definitely signs of some future McIlroy's in the making!

March 2025

5 mentees attended the half term activity at the Holburne museum. These were children from primary schools across the county. Many had not been to the Holburne before so were quite in awe.

After initial check in we met with Louise Head of Learning & Engagement, Pathways to Wellbeing Programme Manager at the Holburne. Louise showed us round the pop art exhibition and connected the children with the art, bringing the stories alive.

Children were engaged in this and took inspiration back to the workshop where they created their own pop art on tote bags to take home. The children all got really stuck in  and were proud of their creations. All children checked out with a 9 or 10 out of 10. A significant increase from the check in. 

February 2025

You will need: Pine cones, lard or a vegetarian alternative, bird seed, prepared in a small tray, string, scissors, knife, kitchen roll, newspaper, a large tray or something to stop everything getting covered in lard. 

Step 1: Cut one piece of string per pinecone, about 30 cm long, for hanging your finished bird feeder up in a tree.
Step 2: Cover the pinecone in lard (you will find it easier to cut the lard into small chunks and slightly warm it up in your hands before trying to spread it).
Step 3: Roll the pinecone in the bird seed and press the seed into the lard so it sticks. If you can still see the lard, make sure you cover that by sprinkling the seed over it and pressing it in.
Step 4: Tie the piece of string, wool or twine to the top of your pinecone with a double or triple knot

January 2025

Boom Battle Bar have kindly agreed to let mentoring pairs play pool for free. It is a child friendly zone until 9pm on weekdays.  Mentors will need to show their Mentoring Plus ID card to access this kind offer. They have 3 pool tables available so have advised for mentoring pairs to call before coming along to check availability

Weston ex services club in Weston Village also have a pool table available. They open weekdays at 3pm. Mentoring pairs will need to pay £1 each for guest entry and then pool is 50p per game. As they have 1 table available, they have suggested mentoring pairs call to check the table is free rather than just turning up 01225 425147.

Play pool for free at the The New Inn at Farmborough on Monday and Tuesday from 3pm. They also have a kitchen so you can grab a snack with your drinks. 

Fosseway Golf Club in Midsomer Norton have generously agreed for mentoring pairs to play golf with no green fees (just show your ID card). They will also lend you golf clubs for your use. This is a wonderful opportunity to stay connected with the sport and further build relationships with fellow golfers.

We are pleased to have been offered free access to the American Museum in Bath for Mentor and Mentee pairs from Mentoring Plus. Just show your ID upon arrival to take advantage of this generous offer.

Why not get active this January and hire a tennis court for free at either Keynsham Park, Alice Park or Sydney Gardens? Contact lou.welch@mentoringplus.net who can book this for you.

Bath City Farm’s café is open with snacks and drinks available at reasonable prices. There are some great walks around the site with views across Bath and also opportunities to feed the animals. Make sure you wear suitable footwear when it’s wet as it can get muddy, open Tuesday - Friday.

Congo Falls adventure golf in Stockwood have an exotic themed crazy golf course where you can also enjoy the driving range, book online.

Bump Rollerdisco in Bristol are offering regular skating sessions from 4-7pm on various week days. Book online.

If checking out the latest film is more your thing, then head to the VUE Cinema at Longwell Green. Ticket prices start from £4.99.

December 2024

Walk around the Bath Christmas light trail with plenty of opportunities along the way for some festive treats. 

Visit the Hmolburne Museum where young people under the age of 18 get in for free.

The American museum have kindly agreed for mentors to get in for free as a carer and so you would just have to pay for a mentee at £8.25 or £5.50 if your mentee wishes to see the gardens and cafe only. If your mentee has something with their address on, they can also get 25% off as a discovery card offer. The American Museum are hosting a festive New York Dog Trail from 12^th November to 31st December.

Bath on Ice continues at Victoria Park. Please ensure both you and your mentee wear the wrist guards available to avoid injury. Book your tickets in advance before they sell out.
 
Glow Golf is situated next to the ice rink and allows you to enjoy a game of mini golf at night with glow in the dark golf balls. Book tickets to avoid disappointment.
 
Avon Valley are open for both daytime and evening Christmas Events and ice skating, including late night sessions. 

Europe’s first next-gen mini golf will be coming to Bath Sport and Leisure Centre in January 2025. With amazing themes, interactive games and the latest tech, Puttify sounds perfect for a mentoring session.

November 2024

Every school holiday we run a group activity for some of the Primary aged mentees. These group activities really enhance the overall mentoring experience for our mentees, giving them the chance to try something new and connect with their peers in a positive and safe space.

One of the favourites is always our trip to the woods. During the October half term we linked up with the wonderful Eco Wild project to welcome a group of 10 children for some fun in the woods near Bath. Children and staff got the opportunity to become immersed in the woodland experience.

A range of activities included following forest trails, fire lighting, cooking over a fire, whittling, swinging in hammocks and, of course, getting muddy. So many positive outcomes and everyone felt refreshed, calm and happy. A great way to spend a few hours.

October 2024

Things to do with your mentee
If you are stuck for ideas then why not check out our mentor map for ideas of new things to try. Let us know if you have somewhere to add.

Step back in time and ride on a steam train. Book a child ticket online at Avon Valley Railway and mentors get in for free with a carers ticket – show your ID badge on arrival. Trains are next running on 30^th October.

Frome Boulder Rooms are happy to offer a discount for Mentoring Pairs; give them a call before you attend and don’t forget to take your Mentoring Plus ID.

Don’t forget that B&NES residents and Discovery Card holders can take advantage of free entry to heritage sites in Bath. Remember to take some ID with you and book in advance.

There is a fabulous café at Mulberry Hub, Combe Down, Bath.  The café space is open until 4pm weekdays and offers a friendly environment and plenty of room to play board games or to engage in some art work as well as free parking!

The Music Workshop (in Green Park Station, Bath) would love to welcome young people and their mentors. They are open Monday to Friday from 3pm and have a great café area. Pairs can either pop in and grab a drink or book a rehearsal space.

Riverside Inn in Saltford are opening up a festive ice rink from 21^st November until 5^th January. You can make a booking from October 11^th.

Why not come to Riverside and learn how to play pool, air hockey or table tennis? You could also try some cooking or book our music studio and try out a new instrument. Get in touch with your practitioner to book out the space.

Circus Vegas are currently based at Durdham Downs in Bristol and are open until 20^th October. They are offering shows Wednesday, Thursday and Fridays each week. Tickets start at £10.

There are lots of sites around the county that are now open where you can pick your own pumpkins, some places open from the end of September. Some places are even offering the chance to visit their Halloween Maze. 

If staying active is your thing then take advantage of Bath Leisure Centre who offer sessions of ten- pin bowling, trampoline park, roller skating and swimming.

UBX gym (London Road) are offering free gym sessions for mentoring pairs. Please contact your practitioner if you are interested in this opportunity. 

September 2024

Things to do with your mentee
 It is nearly pumpkin picking season! There are lots of sites around the county where you can pick your own pumpkins, some places open from the end of September. Some places are even offering the chance to visit their Halloween Maze. Check out Farrington's pumpkin festival, Saltford or Avon Valley.

Magnify it - take a closer look on your walk with a magnifying glass! How do the veins look on leaves and/or the swirling colours in pebbles? You could recreate these patterns with colouring pencils or paints when you get home.
 
Play word games as you walk. Try the ‘I Spy Alphabet Game’ – go through the alphabet saying things you can see on your walk for example A= acorn, B= berries some of the letters will be tricky! Describe something you can see while your mentee tries to guess what it is you are describing.

Mentoring is a great opportunity to learn new skills. Why not come to Riverside and learn how to play pool or table tennis or use our kitchen to learn how to cook? Contact your practitioner who can book out a slot for you.
 
Learning life skills is really beneficial for young people. You could manage your monthly budget together or work out how to get the bus including buying a ticket.

Farrington Park have a great driving range which is open from 9.30am to 8pm with no need to book – just turn up and take advantage of member rates when you say you’re from Mentoring Plus (take your ID).

If checking out the latest film is more your thing, why not head to the VUE Cinema at Longwell Green. Ticket prices start from £4.99. 

Get your camera out and take photos of your session for our competition (read on for more details!)

August 2024

During August we ran an activity day here at Riverside for our primary aged mentees. Riverside was in full effect as children enjoyed lots of games – table tennis, pool, air hockey, football, frisbee and more!

We also did a bit of t-shirt printing and children enjoyed making dough and building their own pizza to cook in our wood fired pizza oven – the feedback was really positive with some saying that the pizza was even better than the big D!

Our group holiday activities are always really popular. As well as trying some new activities and having fun, the children tell us they really enjoy meeting up with new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

July 2024

On Tuesday 9th July we enjoyed a night of fun for our summer mentor social with many volunteer mentors in attendance.

Mentor socials are a way of informally getting mentors together to have fun and to chat about their experiences of being a mentor. We discussed successes and challenges of mentoring as well as new places to visit.

It was great to see to many of you in attendance. Huge thanks to Nick for hosting his TV theme tune quiz! 

June 2024

In June we welcomed over 20 parents and carers to an information evening about supporting children and young people with change. The primary to secondary school transition was a key theme, but the discussion also covered bereavement, family breakup and other difficult shifts.
 
The families who joined us were open in sharing the challenging behaviours we see when children are stressed and anxious. Together we explored how we can see these as communication and manage our own feelings, as well as techniques to help children and teens express emotions and feel safe.
 
We do these events because we’re committed to sharing our practice and ensuring as many young people as possible get support from the adults around them. What other topics would you like to see us cover?

May 2024

Thanks to everyone who sponsored me and supported me on the build up. It was a fantastic experience. I loved every step.

Aside from the awe inspiring landscapes, beautiful weather, good whisky, quality time with friends, peace and self realisation, I met some truly inspiring people - if only they could be mentors!

Many stories to come. I'll be stumbling along for a while whilst the old hobbit feet and knees recover but I'm already thinking about the next mission!

April 2024

Humphrey, our Primary Mentoring Manager, has dusted off his walking shoes in aid of Mentoring Plus and has decided to walk the West Highland Way in Scotland to raise much-needed funding for us.

He will walk the gruelling 96 mile trek from Glasgow to Fort William over the course of a week in May. Humphrey would really appreciate your support so please consider sponsoring him for this epic adventure.

March 2024

Come and join us for an informal catch up at our third Mentor Social on Tuesday 16th April 6.30-8pm here at Riverside.

Please come along to chat to us and fellow mentors over a cuppa and a piece of cake. 

February 2024

Lou and Dave visited St Marks Secondary School to deliver an assembly promoting our youth group sessions to young people. A pizza night was held on 8th February at our Thursday youth group and a fun time was had by all. Our Thursday Youth Group sessions are held at Riverside from 6-8pm and are for young people aged 11 and upwards. Please encourage your mentee to come along.

January 2024

Lace up, hit the streets, and run with purpose! Join us and run the Bath Half for Mentoring Plus and contribute to building a brighter future for children and young people facing really tough challenges in their lives who are living in BathNES. 

We currently have 2 places available and can provide you with training sessions, tips, and support from an experienced running coach. Email to register your interest in joining the team.

November 2023

Almost every young person we work with finds school a really difficult place to be. What we can we do to help them? We can rebuild confidence and aspiration. We can offer space for reflection and wellbeing. We can advocate for additional needs to be met. We can bridge the divide between school and family.

Mentoring Plus does all this, and it makes a difference for our young people. At a time when problems in education can feel vast and intractable, we want to focus on asking what we can do to help.

October 2023

On Sunday 15th October we had a fantastic day at the Bath Half Marathon. A huge thank you to our runners who were all amazing and who have so far helped us to raise nearly £4000 for Mentoring Plus. We have a few charity places for the March 2024 event so if you are interested in taking part, please get in touch with Becki at community@mentoringplus.net

September 2023

Our Youth Reps have worked extremely hard over the last couple of years helping Cleveland Pools to promote the refurbishment of this amazing historic facility. We are pleased to say that this after years of hard work, Cleveland Pools is now open. We are so proud to have supported them on their journey.

August 2023

Riverside was a hive of activity on Tuesday 8th August as our primary mentees enjoyed getting together for their annual Summer activity. The weather did not dampen the spirits of making pizzas in the outdoor wood fired pizza oven which were made to restaurant quality!

The group also enjoyed arts and crafts, playing pool and air hockey and using the space at Riverside to relax.

It was a small group of children but this worked well as the children valued this time to open up about their own experiences in a safe space. 

July 2023

On Tuesday 27^th June Riverside was the place to be as we successfully celebrated 25 years of Mentoring Plus. The evening showcased many of our young people's creativity and adults alike!

It was lovely to see so many of our community taking part. Special thanks to Bath Youth Samba who gave a stunning drumming performance and even invited mentoring pairs to join them.

A highlight of the evening was the premiere of 'Shoulder to Shoulder', a short film made by our mentees and youth club members (view the film below). Here's to the next 25 years!

June 2023

We had some really positive feedback about our new look mentor social which we held back in May at Riverside (Mentoring Plus HQ). Mentors enjoyed catching up with other mentors, sharing stories and challenges, playing some Dobble and eating cake and ice cream.....a top evening!

We have scheduled the next one for Tuesday September 12^th 6.30-8pm at Riverside and would love to see you there.

May 2023

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is understanding anxiety and the impact it has on our lives. Anxiety can affect the young people we work with, their families and ourselves.
 
Having a consistent mentoring session each week can contribute towards the positive mental health of our young people and spending quality time with a mentor can really enhance positive mental health.

April 2023

Preparations for our 25^th Anniversary celebration are well underway, and we will be celebrating the occasion with an event on Tuesday 27^th June 2023 at Riverside Youth Hub.

Being alongside young people is at the heart of our work and in our 25^th year, Mentoring Plus is asking our community to join in with expressing the everyday magic of being ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’.

We are asking for contributions from mentoring pairs to share their experiences of mentoring along the theme of Shoulder to Shoulder to explore “When I’m shoulder to shoulder with my mentor I feel like I can….”

March 2023

It’s our 25^th Anniversary this year and to mark it we are a holding an event on Tuesday 27^th June 2023 at Riverside Youth Hub. Our young people and families, volunteers, staff, supporters, partners, and local community are invited to join us at the event which will be an exhibition celebrating mentoring and young people.

Working, walking and talking alongside each other is at the heart of our work and in our 25^th year, Mentoring Plus is asking our community to join in with expressing the everyday magic of being ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’.

February 2023

6^th February marked the start of Children’s Mental Health week and this year the theme for the week was “Let’s Connect”.
 
It's great fun to connect with your mentee playing games, chatting over a coffee, going for walks, and spending time outside together. Connecting with someone else can improve our mental health including improved self-esteem, lower rates of anxiety and depression and increased resilience.

January 2023

The start of a New Year can bring mixed feelings for many of us; with resolutions made and plenty of adverts exhorting us to try something new it can also be a harder time of year for many people and the importance of being kind to ourselves sometimes needs a reminder.

December 2022

We are open for tree sales on December 10^th and 11^th from 10am-4pm to help raise funds for our youth activities and mentoring programs.

Our trees are specially selected, UK sourced and from sustainable stock. Trees are available to pre-order now on our website for collection on 10th and 11th December or you can come down to Riverside to choose your tree and grab a hot chocolate or mulled wine.

November 2022

It’s the countdown to Christmas and lots of activities are available for mentoring pairs to try, check out some of the ideas below for new things to try with your mentee.

October 2022

October is pumpkin picking season! There are lots of sites around the county where you can pick your own pumpkin, some even offer a carving area to make a spooky lantern.

September 2022

With the announcement last week about the death of Queen Elizabeth II we know that the news, media coverage and funeral will affect our young people and mentors in different ways.

These events have raised lots of questions with our young people regarding succession, changes, bereavement and traditions. Please remember to be kind to yourself and remain authentic with your mentee including using immediacy with your mentee as needed – this involves revealing how you feel in response to your mentee’s thoughts and feelings with empathy and understanding.

The Mentoring Plus team are here to help support you and your mentee so please contact your practitioner if you need any support or guidance at this time.

August 2022

Mentoring is a great opportunity to learn new skills for both mentee and mentor. Why not come to Riverside and learn how to play pool, air hockey or table tennis? You could also try some cooking or gardening, take turns playing a new game or book our music studio and try out a new instrument.
 
Learning life skills is really rewarding for our young people. You could manage your monthly budget together, work out how to get the bus including buying a ticket or encourage your mentee to order their choice of food or drink in a café. These skills are empowering for young people and learning new things together is always fun.

July 2022

Being active with your mentee is a great way to spend your mentoring session, but don’t worry this doesn’t mean you need to get sweaty!
 
Staying physically active has massive benefits to mental health and wellbeing and this can be as simple as taking a stroll round the park with your mentee or wandering to the playground together.

Other activities which mentoring pairs have enjoyed are bowling, crazy golf, swimming, bouldering, tennis, dog walks and cycling. Small steps towards moving and being a little more active can have big improvements – for our young people’s mental health and our own.