What is i...me?

The world can be a daunting place for young people: finding an identity, dealing with family, school, peer pressure, and an uncertain future. Imagine facing all of the usual traumas and changes of adolescence without your family, or any support or guidance. If you were a young person in care, these extra worries could be a reality. It is widely recognised that young people in care face huge barriers to progression and development for these reasons.

i...me stands for Impact, Motivate, and Empower. The project aims to do just this for young people in care in Islington. i...me is a mentoring and personal advice project which seeks to help them confront the challenges they face and to support them in fulfilling their potential. The project aims to support young people in accessing education, training, or employment for a sustained period.

The project is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund and is delivered by Connexions and CSV. Connexions pair young people with trained Personal Advisors, while CSV deliver and co-ordinate the mentoring service.

i...me Mentoring:

• Over the course of the next two years, CSV aims to provide trained volunteer mentors for 90 young people in care in Islington aged between 13 and 17.
• Young people are offered a choice of mentor, from peer mentors of a similar age and background, to Higher Education student mentors, and also business mentors working in London
• The project hopes to offer support, a source of advice and inspiration, and a means of planning the future and building on life skills
• Mentoring seeks to provide positive relationships and role models, and helps young people to set and achieve goals
• Mentoring is an independent and informal service which offers young people freedom from the restrictions of formal support services and family.