Our mentors provide guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear to help young people navigate life during and after illness.
Mentoring Programme
Our 6-week mentoring cycles give young people targeted, structured support to help them grow. We set clear goals, track progress, and celebrate success. Every student is matched with a mentor who brings the right expertise and personality – building a supportive relationship that makes a real difference.
Mentoring Programme
Our mentoring programme helps young people gain clarity, skills and encouragement in a way that’s suited to their individual needs and goals. We design the programme by considering their interests, challenges, and the kind of mentor they’ll connect with best.
Our mentoring runs in 6-week cycles, giving us the perfect way to track progress and provide support every step of the way. At the end of each cycle, we review the goals set at the start and celebrate the progress made. If more time would be beneficial, we simply roll into another cycle – keeping the momentum going until those goals are achieved.
Future-focused goals vary for each young person, and serious illness can move the goalposts. Whatever they hope to achieve, we pair them with mentors who offer steady guidance, useful advice and encouragement, shaping support around their next steps.
A successful mentoring relationship is built on trust. We carefully pair each young person with a mentor whose background matches their interests – and whose personality helps create a positive, open connection. It’s about making sure they feel heard, supported, and inspired.
Connecting a young person with our support only takes a few minutes.
Complete our online referral form.
FAQs
We’ve gathered answers to help you learn more about how Bright Futures UK works and how we can support you.
Children and young people aged 5 to 24 in the United Kingdom whose education has been disrupted by a long-term physical or mental health condition. You need to have a diagnosis or be in the process of receiving one. We believe illness should not block learning or a young person’s future.
Online and personalised one-to-one tutoring, befriending, and mentoring led by volunteers. We also run group activities, including befriending, workshops, and CYP advocacy. Our aim is to make education accessible and equitable wherever you are learning from.
Adults from a mix of backgrounds, including university students, recent graduates, and professionals. Some are teachers or trainee teachers. All are here to help you learn with empathy and encouragement.
Most sessions are about one hour. We tailor the length and structure to energy levels, for example, shorter segments with a planned break.
It depends on your personal goals and progress. We review at regular intervals with you and your volunteer and agree whether to continue, pause, or end.
Children and young people aged 5 to 24 in the United Kingdom whose education has been disrupted by a long-term physical or mental health condition. They need to have a diagnosis or be in the process of receiving one. We believe illness should not block learning or a young person’s future.
Yes. Every volunteer completes an enhanced DBS check, safeguarding training, and role-specific training before they start. They are supported and supervised by Bright Futures UK staff.
They can support learning, confidence, goal setting, and social connection. They cannot offer medical advice, crisis support, or therapy, and they do not handle emergencies. Volunteers cannot accept payment for their support.
A young person, their parent, or carer can refer. Professionals such as hospital or school staff can refer with the child or young person’s consent. A Bright Futures team member will meet online to understand goals and needs, agree on a plan that the child or young person helps shape, and then match them with a trained volunteer.
No. All programmes are free.