Volunteer Mentor Application 2025

About us:

GoodWork is a non-profit. We support high-potential young people who face systemic barriers to access the employability skills training and opportunities they need to transition successfully into the workforce. We deliver pioneering programmes that connect employers with talent, engage teams to deliver social impact and empower the next generation. You can read more about what do in our recently published Impact Report, or check out this video insight to our programme.

What we do:

We offer two versions of The GoodWork Programme - Core and Online.

• While both offer 6-months of comprehensive support, mentorship, and access to opportunities, there are some key differences between our programmes.
• For mentors, the key differences to note are that the Core programme has hybrid delivery, while the Online programme is delivered exclusively online and as a result is more likely to reach young people outside of London.
• Regardless of this, mentorship for both programmes is delivered online, though you are welcome to use our HQ if you would like to arrange an in-person meeting.
• Additionally, the Core programme offers slightly more intensive support usually for those without a degree or with little to no work experience, while the Online programme is best suited to graduates or those with some work experience. You may wish to consider this when deciding which programme you would like to volunteer as a mentor for.

Our next cohorts launch soon:

• Online launches 7th July 2025, ending in December 2025
• Core launches 1st September 2025, ending in March 2026

We’re looking for volunteer mentors to work one-to-one with a young person on our programme, supporting them to reach their goals.

Who we support:

We work with young adults aged 18-25 from low income communities, who are unemployed and underemployed. We prioritise applications to our programme from those who have left education without a degree, who have fewer qualifications, or qualifications that are typically undervalued by employers.

Our primary target population is those from a lower socioeconomic background, however most of the young people we support experience intersectional inequality.

Our approach to mentoring:

Mentors play a key role in our programme delivery, building relationships with young people and helping them set and stay accountable to their goals. We run a structured mentoring programme, providing guidance for sessions, resources and suggested focus areas.

Responsibilities:

• Provide high-quality careers guidance and practical support to a young person on GoodWork’s upcoming programme
• Between July - December 2025 for the Online programme
• Between September - March 2026 for the Core programme
• Deliver one-to-one support via a video call at least once a fortnight, ensuring your mentee has access to high-quality practical help (e.g. CV reviews, help with job applications, interview coaching) and support to help them navigate the job market.
• Attend an introductory call with a member of the GoodWork team and keep in close contact with us, feeding back via email and regular check ins with our programme delivery team.
• Wherever possible, attend at least one in-person event to meet with your mentee and connect with our team and other mentors. Reasonable travel costs can be reimbursed.
• This is not essential criteria for the Online programme.

Time commitment:

• 3-4 hours monthly, flexible to suit your schedule. This might break down as follows:
• At least one 45-minute mentoring session per fortnight for the duration of the 6-month programme, although you may decide to meet weekly while building your mentoring relationship. This will be virtual, unless you would like to arrange to use our HQ for some meetings. ****
• Ability to be responsive to messages and requests for support within 3 working days, or redirecting your mentee to the GoodWork team ASAP when you don’t have capacity to respond to a request.
• Regularly updating your mentoring log and proactively reporting any concerns, to let us know how it’s going and if there’s anything we need to follow up on.
• You must be able to attend one of the following online onboarding sessions, which will explain expectations of the programme, safeguarding, advice/best practice for working with young people, DEI focus areas specific to our programme, etc:
• Monday 23rd June 2025 - 16:00 - 18:00 [Online programme mentors only]
• Monday 11th August 2025 - 12:00-14:00 [Core programme mentors only]
• Thursday 14th August 2025 - 16:00-18:00 [Core programme mentors only]
• If you are a returning mentor of GoodWork’s, you will only need to attend a short refresher session. These will be organised according to need.

What we’re looking for from mentors:

• Open-minded, empathetic, interested in helping others and willing to learn from our young people about their experiences.
• We particularly encourage applications from those who have lived experience relevant to our programme. This includes but is not limited to people of colour, those with disabilities (including people who are neurodivergent), care leavers, non-graduates and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experienced professionals willing to draw from their own experiences and share their expertise to help our participants develop.
• Committed to understanding and working within our safeguarding policy, including passing an Enhanced DBS check.
• Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.