Mentor for Young People
Do you want to make a real difference in the life of a young person?
Could you spare a couple of hours a week to encourage, support, and simply show up for a at risk young person who needs it?
At Upside Youth Mentoring, we are an early intervention charity that believes that one trusted adult can change the direction of a young person’s life.
Every week across Auckland, young people aged 9–13 are referred to us by schools because they would benefit from having a positive role model in their corner — someone to listen, encourage them, have fun with them, and remind them they matter.
As an Upside mentor, you’ll spend a couple of hours each week with a young person for at least 12 months. You don’t need to be an expert, counsellor, or youth worker — just someone willing to consistently show up, build trust, and journey alongside them.
Through simple moments like grabbing an ice cream, kicking a ball around, playing games, or having a chat, mentors help young people grow in confidence, resilience, and hope.
We’re looking for people who:
Care about young people
Want to give back in a meaningful way
Can commit to one hangout a week
Believe every young person deserves someone in their corner
By becoming a volunteer mentor, you become part of the Upside whānau — being part of a young persons success story, helping bring hope, belonging, and brightness into the lives of rangatahi across Aotearoa.
If this sounds like you, we’d love to chat.
We do require Upside mentors to have a full drivers licence and vehicle, and must be willing to undergo a police check.
As an Upside mentor, you'll commit to meeting with your young person once a week for 12 months. This consistent support and guidance provide a stable foundation for these young individuals, who greatly benefit from having a mentor showing up each week and present in their lives.
We understand the importance of support and guidance for our mentors as well. Upside provides training, a dedicated Mentoring Coordinator for ongoing support ensuring you have the tools and resources needed to thrive in your role. We believe that together, we can create a safe and nurturing environment for these young people to thrive.
Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below. We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Mentoring