Award-winning mentoring programme for teens chooses Minehead for its latest expansion

Goal 17, a national provider of youth mentoring services, has announced its expansion into the area and that they intend to make dozens of free places available via local youth organisation and school referrals up until March 2025.

Adults from across Minehead and West Somerset are also invited to join the programme as volunteer mentors, enjoying networking and training opportunities, as well as an unforgettable experience working with a local young person.

“This is an incredible opportunity to give back and be a part of something truly meaningful. The connections we build with these young people are life-changing, not just for them but for us as mentors too,” said Rachel Newell, a current Goal 17 mentor.

On the programme, young people are matched one-to-one with a fully trained adult mentor and they work together across a six-session structured programme, identifying and delivering a specific community-focused goal which can include organising a local event, volunteering, or launching an awareness campaign.

Recognising the distinct challenges for young people in the area, Samantha Briggs, the Somerset-based Programme Manager at Goal 17 said: “In Minehead and across Exmoor, rural isolation, in part due to public transport issues, creates barriers for young people accessing education and training opportunities, but also when socialising and accessing leisure activities.

"Mentoring helps young people on the cusp of adulthood identify goals they have for themselves and their community and helps them find solutions to overcome barriers.”

The free programme is sponsored by the National Citizen Service (NCS) and is designed to create a multi-generational experience that empowers both young people and their mentors.

“We believe that every young person has the potential to make a difference, but sometimes they just need a little guidance and support to unlock it. This partnership with the NCS is about more than just mentoring, it’s about empowering young people to see themselves as changemakers in their own communities. By providing them with a framework, a mentor, and a platform to take action, we’re helping them build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose that will last a lifetime,” said Fran Boorman, Founder of Goal 17.

Anyone who is interested in learning about volunteering a couple of hours a month as a mentor or any organisation or school who would like to access free mentoring support for the young people, they work with can find out more information and register on the project website, www.goal17/global/ncs