Beacon Invicta Life Skills Mentoring (Direct Payments)

Beacon Invicta Life Skills Mentoring provides young people with a consistent, supportive adult who helps them build confidence, independence and practical life skills through regular mentoring sessions.

Sessions are delivered by trained volunteer mentors and focus on positive activities, real-world experiences and supportive conversation. The aim is to help young people develop the skills, confidence and resilience they need to navigate everyday life.

Life Skills Mentoring may include activities such as:

• building confidence and self-esteem

• developing social and communication skills

• exploring hobbies and interests

• learning practical life skills

• engaging in community activities

• having a trusted adult to talk to

Sessions typically take place weekly in the community and are tailored to the young person’s interests and goals.

This service can be funded through Direct Payments, allowing families to use their allocated support funding to access ongoing mentoring support.

Beacon provides:

• recruitment and matching of a suitable mentor

• mentor training and DBS checks

• safeguarding oversight

• ongoing mentor supervision and support

• session planning and activity budget
  
  

Beacon Life Skills Mentoring provides social and life skills support and does not provide personal care or specialist disability care services.

Beacon Life Skills Mentoring is designed for young people who may benefit from extra encouragement, guidance and a positive adult role model outside of home and school.

It may be suitable for young people who:

• would benefit from building confidence and self-esteem

• find social situations challenging

• are developing independence and life skills

• would benefit from positive community activities

• need a trusted adult to talk to

• are experiencing low confidence, anxiety or friendship difficulties

• may be struggling with school engagement or transitions
  
  

Life Skills Mentoring focuses on supporting personal development through positive relationships and experiences.

The service is typically suitable for young people aged 8–16+ who can benefit from mentoring support in the community.

Beacon mentoring provides social and life skills support and is not intended to replace specialist services, personal care or clinical support.

Sessions are planned around what feels safe and comfortable for the young person.

A typical session might include:

• going for a walk, visiting a park, or taking part in a simple outdoor activity

• playing football or another light sport

• drawing, crafts or other creative activities

• grabbing a drink and chatting in a safe public space
  
  

Sessions usually take place weekly or fortnightly and typically last around 60–120 minutes.

Activities are guided by the young person’s interests and are designed to help build confidence, develop life skills and create a positive mentoring relationship.

All mentors are DBS checked and trained volunteers, and sessions take place under the safeguarding oversight of the Beacon Invicta team.

We meet in safe public places around Gravesend / North Kent - for example community venues, parks, sports spaces or youth settings we already work with.

We do not meet in private homes, and all locations are risk-assessed and agreed with parents / carers in advance.

All Beacon mentors:

• Hold an enhanced DBS check

• Complete safeguarding and youth work training

• Follow our Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct

Mentoring sessions are risk-assessed, supervised by the Project Lead, and recorded using our secure contact logs. Any concerns are followed up quickly with parents / carers and, where necessary, other professionals.

If you would like to talk about a potential mentoring referral, please get in touch via our contact form or email and we’ll be happy to discuss whether Beacon is the right option.