How mentors make a difference - About-Us - Upstream

How mentors make a difference

• Community mapping: Liaising with community organisations, local services and health and social care professionals; providing information to participants.
• Identification: Early identification of people who are at risk of losing their independence or who need support to regain their confidence and abilities – with a special focus on the most isolated and those from minority ethnic groups
• Overcoming barriers: Support to identify and overcome the physical, psychological and social barriers to engagement in a sensitive and timely way.
• Engagement / Inclusion: Signposting opportunities for people to become involved in community activities or in groups initiated by mentors tailored to participants’ health and social needs and personal interests and aspirations.
• Positive context: Building self-confidence and self-motivation within a context in which people can thrive and make autonomous decisions about the future, through meaningful and stimulating activities and social contact.
• Sustainability: Encouragement to maintain social and stimulating activities to improve quality of life following the initial service; with guidance on maintaining activities, starting new ones, health and safety, applying for small grants, etc.
• Community follow-up: Long-term maintenance of good health and well-being by encouraging community organisations to work in similar ways and by keeping in touch with people to support them again if needed.
• Partnership: Liaising with health and social care and other public, private and voluntary services in response to expressed needs of individuals and to promote timely and relevant support.
• Consultations: Involvement in conversational, local consultations alongside congenial activities that increase people’s opportunities to influence change.
• Co-operation: Raising self-esteem and a sense of belonging and community involvement through working with others on creative projects of a high quality.
  
• Intergenerational: Engendering mutual respect, reducing fears, increasing a sense of community safety by all ages coming together in practical activities.
• Health training: Encouraging mutual exchange of experience between people in their own social arenas to increase understanding of health and well-being issues and self-care.