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What is mentoring and coaching?

Mentoring and coaching are about development and helping someone to make the most of their talents, at a professional or personal level.

As a mentor or coach you'd offer guidance and advice on practical issues, setting goals and achieving results within a specific timescale. You'd offer moral support and encouragement too.

The difference between mentoring and coaching

There is a degree of overlap between the two roles. However, a mentor tends to be someone with direct experience of the field in which help is required. With coaching, direct experience in the same occupational area is not always necessary.

To find out more about what mentors or coaches do, The Coaching & Mentoring Network offers a free information service.

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Why you?

What you know could prove invaluable to anyone just starting out, either in business, or changing their trade or profession, or indeed anyone at a crossroads.

Different types of mentoring

Business mentors advise and support start-up businesses or assist those new to a trade or profession.

Some businesses have workplace mentors. They offer a positive role-model for young people who have come off track, helping them to return to education or training.

School mentors work with schools and parents to raise standards and expectations, either one-to-one or in small groups. They work in the classroom, help with homework and coursework and support work experience.

Care-leave mentors help young people just leaving care with practical advice as well as emotional support like confidence building.

What qualities do you need?

You will need a sense of commitment and a willingness to do the work and to see it through.  Almost anyone can become a coach or mentor. But the older you are, the more likely it is that you will have specific skills and knowledge to pass on.

Specific qualities might include:

What are the requirements?

There are no professional requirements. The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation has initiated the Approved Provider Standard (APS) as a national benchmark for mentoring. It is government supported and aims to improve competence and safe practice.

Time commitment can vary from a couple of hours a week or a fortnight to three to six hours once a month.

Training courses for mentoring and coaching are available from The Coaching & Mentoring Network.

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• The Coaching & Mentoring Network courses Opens new window

What are the benefits?

Mentoring can increase self-esteem and self-confidence in others, improve motivation, personal and social skills and increase employability.

Within schools, it can achieve increased levels of attainment, as well as improve status for the school in the community, reinforcing the importance of education, and actively develop business links.

Benefits for you include remaining active and involved in your community, developing your own interpersonal skills and becoming more insightful about others.

Does being a coach or a mentor affect your benefits?

As long as your work as a mentor or coach is unpaid, your benefits are not affected.

Getting involved: who to contact?

Many charities welcome the support of mentors and coaches. For example, the Prince’s Trust helps 14 to 30 year olds overcome obstacles and develop their skills. You can find information about the Prince’s Trust and its mentor schemes for business and care-leavers on the Prince’s Trust website.

The Coaching & Mentoring Network has a web-based service for people who either provide coaching or mentoring or are looking for support.

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The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation also has information about how to get involved.

• Mentoring and Befriending Foundation website Opens new window