Reconnect Youth Mentoring

09/07/2016

One thing I really love about helping youth is getting to know them. I sometimes hear the things that are very deep to them from problems to goals or dreams and its so wonderful to work with them to find their direction in life. I find it very fulfilling to see youth grow within themselves and break out of their shells and follow their purpose and achieve great things. Just makes me proud to watch that.

07/03/2016

It's amazing sometimes to see small changes in a child as time goes on. The positive changes that come from having a mentor in their life and have a role model to aspire to be. I've met youth with various distressing backgrounds to those who are so shy to those that only know how to swear. Each one has a beautiful soul in them just sometimes a little harder to find than others because they bury it so far down. They fear to open up as they don't want to be hurt emotionally. My position is to show them that there is an adult that cares about them. All youth are are one adult away that cares of success. Something I've learnt recently and believe in.

'It takes one adult that cares enough to spend quality time with a child to change that child's life for the better.'

This can be an adult friend, family member, teacher or mentor to make such a profound positive influence on a child, that it gives hope and direction, a sense of self worth and self achievement.

I use my time for the students I work with to give them that opportunity to find themselves and work towards what matters to them. Watching a student grow from someone very reserved and quiet to facing challenges, smiling and really chasing their goals and being who they really are is the most amazing thing to observe and it's all because someone invested their time in them and cared enough to take the steps with them however slow they may be but reach a point where they are more confident in their life direction. :)

26/02/2016

How can Mentoring help and support youth?

26/02/2016

24/02/2016

A great place for girls check it out. I've spoken to one of the lovely ladies down there and they are awesome.

Info about them:

At Standing Strong Total Wellness Club for Girls we offer a one-of-a-kind membership program specially designed to support, connect and empower teen girls aged 11-17 years.

Through our Strong Mind, Strong Body, Strong Heart classes girls learn how to improve their confidence and self-esteem, build inner-strength and self-belief, grow friendships, improve their health and body-image, manage stress and gain the tools essential for living happy, healthy and inspired lives.

Our unique classes encourage girls to develop the mindsets known to prevent social and health issues including depression, anxiety, stress, disconnection and lack of motivation and drive. At our club, every girl is accepted, encouraged and celebrated for her individuality and uniqueness by our specially trained instructors and mentors.

Through our initial induction and the follow-on support of our membership, our goal is to equip all girls with the inner-strength, resilience and confidence needed to face the world Standing Strong!
Phone number
0432 977 810
Email address
hello@girlsstandingstrong.com
Website
http://www.girlsstandingstrong.com

https://www.facebook.com/girlsstandingstrongclub/?fref=ts

Standing Strong provides counselling, youth coaching, psychology and wellbeing programs for children and teens, as well as a Youth Coach training course for people passionate about supporting and empowering young people.

24/02/2016

From the students I work with I've seen amazing improvements and feedback from teachers, parents and students. The students learn different skills in how to get along, how to approach other students when shy, learn how to be confident in who they are and their interests.

Having a mentor gives students the encouragement to grow and develop their interests, their character and personalities and take on challenges they wouldn't try. One student's parents said they were thrilled how my program has impacted on their child at home and had made some progress in the classroom.

My programs tap into the student's interests, dreams and ambitions. We create opportunities to reach their goals or at least make a plan on how we might be able to reach them. This is where we might need to give the students the skills and tools to reach those goals. It's just amazing to see students achieve things they doubted themselves for. The smiles for their accomplishments is beautiful to see. Students then use this feeling to tackle the next goal.

If you feel that your child could benefit from a youth program that could enhance their confidence, set goals, or for them to express who they are and feel comfortable, you are welcome to contact me for a chat in how we can tweak a program for your child.

Programs range from 6 - 10 weeks for about 1 hour per week but may also go longer to establish a relationship of friendship and trust which is guided by the student. Please contact me for cost.

17/01/2016

Sometime Youth behaviours are less than desirable, they might be acting up at home or school or both. Learning what might be influencing this behaviour will give a parent or mentor an idea of how to respond or help that person overcome that urge to behave in that way. We are all in control of our own attitudes, effort, actions and behaviour and of how we respond to what others do or say. I have found talking to some of the students I work with has helped in understanding their issues and together we work on ways how to respond appropriately. We have a chart that when they respond in the appropriate way they get little incentives (this varies depending on students age) but slowly we make progress that has been reflected in the classrooms going by the feedback from teachers.
If you are concerned about your child and would like to have a chat with me or would like me to come out to have a chat with your child to work on the best plan of action please contact me to set up a time.

02/01/2016

Lea will be available again from Monday 4th January

08/11/2015

A mentor can be many things to a child, teenager or work colleague. Mentors guide others to be who they want to be, find the resources to help them grow, work with them to reach their goals.

In the schools I've worked in feedback has already come back to my Liaison Officer with recognisable changes that are starting to happen with the students. Behaviours have changed - whether shy to starting to open up, confidence starting to show or those with disruptive behaviour calming down with less outbursts. Youth in many cases just want to be heard, have someone understand them, be encouraged, mentors can help fill that gap and work on goals. I have some very shy students and youth members that have just blossomed in confidence, self esteem has boosted and they've become less shy and talkative to others by engaging in conversation and can freely talk about their dreams and aspirations for the future. I encourage to strive for these dreams and aspirations work with them on making goals to reach them.

Some students I work with are young and have various sensitivities, my large soft animal (Baloo Bear) has kept them company in times of grief, needing a soft companion or sadness and I see a smile creep slowly on their faces. Mentors are a friend students or youth can talk to without judgement. Some feel scared to approach parents when something isn't right for them and we encourage this communication towards their parents to expand the circle of help.

Depression and anxiety have become more prevalent in resent times than previous decades maybe due to exposure to media and education about them. Whether a student or youth member has a mental illness or not, its nothing to be ashamed of. We all struggle with things, sometimes longer than others and we try to hide these struggles pretending that we are coping when actually we're not. I let students talk to me about struggles they are facing, how they are coping, what strategies / goals we can work together on to reduce these. Sometimes its just a matter of learning or understanding, coping strategies, social and life skills, how to strive for their goals and where to go to make that happen or find the resources.

Sometimes its hard to work out as a parent myself if my child is having a run of bad days, hormones, that age, become super sensitive all of a sudden or is it something else. Could a mentor help them? No harm giving it a go. If there is something else deeper, mentors will suggest a referral to a professional if need be.

Most students and youth just need an outlet away from stress and pressure to have fun and relax, be themselves.

From My Liaison Officer

Lea,

You are so fun for them. I am absolutely overwhelmed at what you are doing.

Lea, I never want you to go, and I do understand you will have full time work in the offering. If ever I can assist with a reference for you, please know I would be delighted to help. I have seen you work and seen your professionalism in everything you have done. I will fight them for you.

Lee

07/10/2015

Mentoring can make such a difference to students. I currently mentor a number of male and female students in groups in Caversham PS, Midvale PS & 2 sessions at Middle Swan PS. I've seen changes in the students and they are all trying new things, they are now excited when I arrive and I have to tell them they have to go to lunch now because they want to keep doing what they are doing. Some are quiet and reserved students are now talking a lot more, they are experiencing challenges but I show them how to get through them. I've seen defiance turn to participation and smiles. It's so amazing these students open up and experience exciting things they never knew they could do, or have discovered a interest. I'm so proud of them all how far they've come in just 1 term. Baby steps though and in time they have much more confidence.