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The Kids Network
The Kids Network is a community of children and volunteers connecting through fun, friendship and hardship for positive social change. We support children at a crucial time in their development - in the lead up to and often during the transition from primary into secondary school. We do this by providing them with a volunteer mentor, a local hero from the community.
Description

Gain new skills, training and valuable experiences while supporting a child in your community!

At The Kids Network, we believe every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and inspired. We connect Little Londoners aged 8-11 with volunteer mentors who help them build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging as they transition from primary to secondary school.

Our goal is simple: to create positive, lasting change in children’s lives by connecting them with a consistent, caring mentor from their local community!

Duties

As a mentor, you will be matched with a child aged 8-11 years old, and trained to deliver weekly 1:1 sessions to help build their confidence & resilience through a series of fun experiences. Whether you’re playing games or discussing goals, you’ll be making a difference in a child’s life by developing the tools for a positive future. 

Mentoring a Little Londoner can help support your professional development, with 57% of mentors reporting the programme helped them progress in their career. We will support you to develop and enhance a wide range of transferable skills.

Time commitment 

  • 1-3 hours a week for 1 year. 
  • Sessions can take place anytime outside of school hours
  • Flexible around your schedule, between weekday evenings and weekends.

What You’ll Get from Volunteering

Training, Support & Certificate

  • 1 day initial training, covering safeguarding, mentoring basics, and how to make sessions fun and meaningful.
  • Hours of additional free training throughout the year in webinars and online resources
  • A Badge of Excellence Certificate in Child-Led Mentoring when you complete the programme.
  • Year-long support from your Programme Manager (PM), who will guide you and answer any questions.

Skills and Experience you’ll Gain

  • Project management & teamwork: Plan engaging sessions collaboratively with your mentee.
  • Communication: Learn to adapt your style to a child’s needs, and communicate with a range of stakeholders (PM, child, parent).
  • Professionalism & commitment: Attend 12 months of sessions, meet session report deadlines, and follow TKN policies.
  • Working with children: Hands-on experience supporting children aged 8–11.

Social Opportunities

  • Mentor meet-ups: an opportunity for you to meet, socialise, and share experiences with our diverse community of mentors.
  • Group mentoring events like football games, theatre trips, zoo visits, and art workshops - all free and fun!!
Who will the volunteers be working with?
Our structured mentoring programme supports 8 -11 year olds with their social and emotional development before they transition into secondary school.
Training
• 1 day initial training, covering safeguarding, mentoring basics, and how to make sessions fun and meaningful.
• Hours of additional free training throughout the year in webinars and online resources
• A Badge of Excellence Certificate in Child-Led Mentoring when you complete the programme.
• Year-long support from your Programme Manager (PM), who will guide you and answer any questions.

Time commitment

Sessions will be 1-3 hours a week for the year long mentoring programme. We are flexible about taking a few weeks here and there for holidays, but do expect our volunteers to commit to the full 12 months.

Please note: This is a 12 month programme that continues during school/university holidays therefore you must be living in London for the full programme.

Causes

UCL Departments

This organisation is one of our community partner organisations.

Like all volunteer recruiters we work with, they have signed up to our service standards, agreeing to abide by our policy on partnership working to keep you safe and supported whilst you volunteer.

You’ll never be out of pocket for volunteering through us – with in-London travel expenses to and from your volunteering guaranteed.

In addition, the team here at Students’ Union UCL Volunteering Service is here to support you throughout your volunteering journey – you can get in touch with us at any time.