We’re looking for volunteer mentors to work one-to-one with a young person on our online programme, supporting them to improve their CV and interview skills, boost their employability skills and achieve their goals.
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Key Details
- We are recruiting volunteer mentors to join our next online programme
- The programme will run for six months from January - July 2026
- Mentors meet with their matched mentee for a 1-1 every 2 weeks, supporting across areas such as CV reviews, interview coaching, building confidence and helping them navigate the job market.
- Mentors are required to:
- Join a 15 minute introductory video call with the GoodWork Team
- Attend a 2 hour training session with other mentors (delivered on Zoom)
- Complete an Enhanced DBS Check (GoodWork will support with setting this up)
- Attend monthly group check ins with the GoodWork Team
- We are looking for proactive, open-minded individuals who are keen to make a difference.
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About us:
GoodWork is a youth employment and social mobility charity. We support high-potential young people who face systemic barriers to access the employability skills training and opportunities they need to transition successfully into the workforce. We deliver pioneering programmes that connect employers with talent, engage teams to deliver social impact and empower the next generation. You can read more about what do in our recently published Impact Report, or check out this video insight to our programme.
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What we do:
We offer two versions of The GoodWork Programme - Core and Online.
- While both offer 6-months of comprehensive support, mentorship, and access to opportunities, there are some key differences between our programmes.
- For mentors, the key differences to note are that the Core programme has hybrid delivery, while the Online programme is delivered exclusively online and as a result is more likely to reach young people outside of London.
- Regardless of this, mentorship for both programmes is delivered online, though you are welcome to use our HQ if you would like to arrange an in-person meeting.
- Additionally, the Core programme offers slightly more intensive support usually for those without a degree or with little to no work experience, while the Online programme is best suited to graduates or those with some work experience.
This application is for mentors for our online programme.
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Who we support:
We work with young adults aged 18-25 from low income communities, who are unemployed and underemployed. We prioritise applications to our programme from those who have left education without a degree, who have fewer qualifications, or qualifications that are typically undervalued by employers. Our primary target population is those from a lower socioeconomic background, however most of the young people we support experience intersectional inequality.
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Our approach to mentoring:
Mentors play a key role in our programme delivery, building relationships with young people and helping them set and stay accountable to their goals. We run a structured mentoring programme, providing guidance for sessions, resources and suggested focus areas.
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Responsibilities:
- Provide high-quality careers guidance and practical support to a young person on GoodWork’s online programme.
- Deliver one-to-one support via a video call at least once a fortnight, ensuring your mentee has access to high-quality practical help (e.g. CV reviews, help with job applications, interview coaching) and support to help them navigate the job market.
- Keeep in close contact with the GoodWork Team, feeding back via email and attending monthly check ins with our programme delivery team.
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Time commitment:
- 3-4 hours monthly, flexible to suit your schedule. This might break down as follows:
- At least one 45-minute mentoring session per fortnight for the duration of the 6-month programme, although you may decide to meet weekly while building your mentoring relationship. This will be virtual, unless you would like to arrange to use our HQ for some meetings. ****
- Ability to be responsive to messages and requests for support within 3 working days, or redirecting your mentee to the GoodWork team ASAP when you don’t have capacity to respond to a request.
- Regularly updating your mentoring log and proactively reporting any concerns, to let us know how it’s going and if there’s anything we need to follow up on.
- You must be able to attend an online onboarding and training session, which will explain expectations of the programme, safeguarding, advice/best practice for working with young people, DEI focus areas specific to our programme, etc:
- If you are a returning mentor of GoodWork, you will only need to attend a short refresher session. These will be organised according to need.
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What we’re looking for from mentors:
- Proactive, experienced professionals who are willing to draw from their own experiences and share their expertise to help our participants develop.
- Open-minded, empathetic, interested in helping others and willing to learn from our young people about their experiences.
- We particularly encourage applications from those who have lived experience relevant to our programme. This includes but is not limited to people of colour, those with disabilities (including people who are neurodivergent), care leavers, non-graduates and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Committed to understanding and working within our safeguarding policy, including passing an Enhanced DBS check.
- Committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Process and timelines:
- Applications close on Monday 15 December 2025. We receive a lot of interest in mentoring opportunities, so please ensure you get your application in as soon as possible.
- We’ll be in touch with suitable candidates, who will be asked to book in a 15 minute chat with a member of the programme team so we can meet you and get to know you better.
- You will then be asked to undertake an Enhanced DBS check and confirm your availability for an onboarding session.
- Onboarding: Mentors will attend an onboarding and training session held online on Zoom on Tuesday 6 January, 4 - 6pm. You must be able to attend this so please let us know as soon as possible if this date doesn’t work for you.
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Further timelines:
|
Online programme |
| Programme launch |
Programme launches on Thursday 8 January. The programme initiates with a 2 hour online session around growth mindset and goal setting**.** |
You (mentor) will be informed of the matching outcome at the beginning of this week and provided with background information and resources. |
| Programme duration | 6 months from January to July.
Regular mentoring meetings begin every 1 - 2 weeks.
Mentors will meet with their mentee for at least one 45-minute session per fortnight, as well as providing other ad hoc support. |
| Programme end | Wednesday 8 July 2026: Mentors will be invited to join an online, end of programme celebration alongside GoodWork’s team, participants and our partners and funders.
Mentors will also be asked to provide feedback on the programme. |
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