Mentors are adult volunteers in the congregation who provide individual mentorship to a young participant.. Mentors are carefully screened according to Safe Congregations policy. Usually they would be the same sex as the young person with whom they are paired.

The goal for our mentors is to establish a relationship with the youth they are paired with. The point is that the youth have adults who are willing to listen to them, spend time with them and accept them as they are.  The mentor is a representative of our church family and one more person in this youth's circle. 

Research has shown that youth benefit from having caring adults in their lives from within their community.  The mentor-youth relationship is not parent-child or friend-friend.  The mentor's role is to be a sounding board, a guide and a source of support.  You are not expected to have all the answers.

For most pairs, it will be important to arrange some kind of interesting activity; the relationship will develop best in that context.  Mentors are encouraged to share their special expertise, i.e., their hobbies, patterns, and vocation.  Mentors should not spend much money on these activities.  Possible activities include:

• Visit to the mentor's work place.
• Going to a movie, museum.
• Building or making something together (carpentry, pottery).
• Taking the bus around town.
• Playing sports.
• Attending an organized activity together, such as UCS choir or a community recreational activity.
• Creating a book together.
• Making a meal together.
• Volunteering together at Food Bank or Friendship Inn or other charitable activity.
• Volunteering together in a UCS fundraiser: cooking, cleaning up, sending mail...

Time commitment:

• To spend time with youth about twice a month. The timing and frequency of these visits can be adjusted by mutual consent. 
• To participate in a mandatory orientation session.
• To participate in the closing Sunday morning ceremony of the Coming of Age program.
• Mentors might also be invited for a meal at one or two of the retreats.

-Debby Lake, 2004