Mentors/Befrienders

We also run an ever increasingly popular mentoring/befriending scheme.

We match lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans mentors/befrienders with lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans young people who are homeless, living in a hostile environment or just need someone to talk to.

To be a mentor/befriender you need to:

• Positively identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans
• Have on average 2hours per week to volunteer
• Live in Greater Manchester or London (any London borough) or have easy access to these areas
• Be prepared to undergo a 3-6month training & assessment process

Both mentoring and befriending are one-to-one, non-judgemental activities meeting once a week or once a fortnight.

Mentoring is largely task-focussed and time limited.

Befriending is more informal and offers the young person a friendly ear.

All AKT volunteers for these roles are trained in both mentoring and befriending so as to be flexible to the needs of young people.

Mentoring might be able to help a young person, for example:

• Fill in the forms for college
• Apply for a job
• Budget
• Access LGBT social groups
• Help build support networks

Befriending might be able to help a young person, for example:  

• With coming out
• Deal with bullying
• With feelings of isolation

As our mentors and befrienders identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or trans, they are often role models for young people coming out or coming to terms with their identity. We ask that our mentors have a positive attitude to their own identity in the hope that young people are not continually exposed to the negative images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans life.

We provide support to our mentors and befrienders, along with a training package, expenses and the chance to give something back to the LGBT community.

For more information on becoming a mentor and befriender please call either office or email recruitment@akt.org.uk