Mentors (Step 4)
Being a Mentor
It's important that a young person comes up with the project, fills out the application form, leads and carries out the project. However, a requirement to receive a grant is to have a mentor/whakaruruhau to support you in writing your application and doing your project as well as be responsible for the money.
The organisation they work for will receive the money and your mentor/whakaruruhau will administer the money when it is needed.
Partnership between adults and young people is an important aspect of Rise and your time and expertise will be hugely beneficial to the young people who apply for and carry out a project.
As a mentor/whakaruruhau, your role is to mentor, supervise and provide support for the young people that will be undertaking a project, rather than taking the lead.
Young people are expected to come up with the idea, write the application form, carry out the project and write the follow up report.
Here's your responsibilities:
- If you don't already know the young person/people applying for a grant, get to know them a little.
- Support the young person/people to complete their application. Perhaps make some suggestions that will improve their application and increase their chances of getting at grant, making sure it fits with our criteria and conditions.
- If the application is successful, the organisation you work for will receive the amount of money outlined in the budget section of the application. You will be responsible for administering the money for each of the items in the budget.
- You will provide any support the young person/people might require through the course of the project. Encourage them to keep to the timeline they've outlined.
- Once the grant is completed the young person/people are required to complete a final report and send us photos and anything else their project produces. You may need to support them to complete this report.
- While we do not need to see copies of receipts, most organisations would expect that you get receipts for anything you purchase and hand them in.
It is easier if you can find your own mentor/whakaruruhau. Ideally they would be someone who has some experience and knowledge of youth mental health.
For example: Youth Workers, Teachers, School Guidance Counsellors, Social Workers.
We encourage you to make an effort to find a mentor/whakaruruhau yourself. Contact some youth organisations in your area if you don't know of anyone.
If you can't find someone, contact us and we can give you some suggestions. If you need help with finding a mentor make sure you contact us at least 4 weeks before the grant deadline.