An exploration of a mentoring programme for at-risk adolescents in the West Midlands, UK

Earnshaw, Deborah; Harrison, Natalie

Abstract

Extra-curricular activities, such as playing sport and participating in mentoring programmes, have physical and mental health benefits for individuals. For adolescents particularly, nurturing these interests has the potential for positive outcomes in academic attainment and personal development, an increase to self-esteem, and positive development of relationship skills. This study explored the understanding and attitudes that 11 adolescents, aged 13–16 years, enrolled on a West Midlands-based charity’s sports and mentoring programme, had towards their participation through the form of semi-structured focus groups. Thematic Analysis was performed, and three key themes were identified: (i) Positive changes to their behaviour, (ii) Connections with the mentors, and (iii) The difference the mentoring programme has made to their lives. The findings demonstrated that the mentoring programme was beneficial and had favourable impact on the adolescents involved and support the need for such programmes to be further developed and promoted for youth to access.

Citation

Earnshaw, D., & Harrison, N. (2024). An exploration of a mentoring programme for at-risk adolescents in the West Midlands, UK. Mentoring and Tutoring, 32(5), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2024.2396468

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 13, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Aug 29, 2024
• Publication Date: Aug 29, 2024
• Deposit Date: Sep 2, 2024
• Journal: Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning
• Print ISSN: 1361-1267
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1-15
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2024.2396468
• Keywords: Mentoring programme; adolescent; schools; United Kingdom; qualitative research
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/890288
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13611267.2024.2396468