“I feel very privileged that I can do this”

Lukas has mentored four young people in the borough through the Mentoring, Advocacy and Peer Support (MAPS) scheme.

“When I was younger I had a lot of struggles,” said Lukas. “I think if I had the right role model at the time maybe I would have gone down a different path. Now that I am older I can hopefully give that support to someone else.” 

MAPS volunteers like Luke offer young people a safe space to talk and be listened to. 

Lukas has seen the young people he mentors all grow in confidence throughout their year together. “I sometimes have to point out to the young person how much they have changed in the year, they don't see it themselves. For one young person I mentored they went from suffering from severe social anxiety, not keen to leave the house, to walking down the busy crowded street while having a chat without even realising.”

The MAPS programme is run by the Volunteer Centre Sutton. Mentors are provided with training and ongoing support throughout the one year programme. Mentors meet with a matched young person once a week. 

For Lukas, the experience has been very rewarding. “I feel very privileged that I can do this and that there is the opportunity to do this.” 

Funding from the Sutton Council Covid Rebuild Fund has supported the Volunteer Centre Sutton to deliver the MAPS programme.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering as a MAPS mentor, please contact maps@vcsutton.org.uk. The next round of training for MAPS mentors is in July 2022 and they are recruiting now.