In this update:

• Regional workshops on the new Guide to Youth Mentoring - update
• Introducing our new training facilitators - Ross McCook and Rod Baxter
• Free presentation - Professor Renee Spencer, The University of Auckland Seelye Fellow and Harvard PHD Graduate, will speak about Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM), an innovative new approach to mentoring practice
• MentorPlus (mentoring skills) workshop - 23 & 24 May - places still available 
• Local news:
  • Brothers in Arms powerful video highlighting the power of 'self-talk' 
  • Some fun activities to bring to your mentoring sessions
• International research - Mentoring for first-generation immigrant and refugee youth

Regional workshops on the new Guide to Youth Mentoring - Upate

There were lots of happy faces at our first regional workshop for the year. Held in Nelson on the 28 March, participants came from a wide cross-section of youth focused organisations in the region including educational institutions, social services agencies, Not-for-profit organisations and the local Council.

Caroline Hoar from the Ministry of Inspiration thought it was a fabulous workshop.

'The Workbook and guide are excellent, I just wish I'd had the Guide 7 years ago!'

Registrations are now open for our next 2 workshops

There are still a couple of places available for our next workshop being held in Whangarei on the 11 April and registrations are now open for our Palmerston North workshop next month. 

Check out the schedule below and be sure to keep an eye on our website or 'like' our facebook page to keep up to date.

2017 Regional Workshop schedule 

Region |  Centre  |  Date

Northland | Whangarei | Tuesday 11 April - Register online now

Manawatu | Palmerston North | Thursday 4 May - Register on line now

Waikato | Hamilton | Wednesday 7 June 

West Coast | Hotitika | Tuesday 20 June 

Poverty Bay | Gisborne | Tuesday 4 July 

Wellington | Wellington | Wednesday 26 July 

Auckland | West Auckland | Tuesday 8 August  

Southland | Invercargill | Thrusday 22 August 

Marlborough | Blenheim | Tuesday 12 September 

Free Presentation: Professor Renee Spencer - Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM)

We are delighted to be co-hosting a presentation with The University of Auckland Seelye Fellow and Harvard PHD Graduate Professor Renee Spencer who will speak about Youth Initiated Mentoring (YIM), an innovative new approach in mentoring practice where young people are encouraged and supported to select adults to be their mentors. This approach holds great potential to address a number of challenges faced by mentoring programmes such as volunteer recruitment and attrition and the low to modest outcomes acheived particularly for high risk youth. 

Date and time:

Tuesday 2 May 2017

5pm - Reception - refreshments provided

6pm - 7.30pm - Presentation

Venue: Epsom Campus, Epsom Avenue, Auckland

This is a free event but you do need to register to attend: seelyefellow2017.eventbrite.co.nz

Event flyer:  Renee Spencer - 2017FINAL

Introducing our new training facilitators

Ross McCook

Ross is the founding co-director for Heart For Youth Charitable Trust. He has over 20 years experience working with youth in NZ and overseas. He is a registered CYF caregiver and a current caregiver for special needs teens along with his wife, Sue. In 2014 Ross was nominated for both “New Zealander Of The Year Awards” and “Pride of New Zealand Awards” and was awarded a community service medal for his outstanding work with youth and youth at risk. Ross is based in Auckland.

Rod Baxter

Rod works for the NZ Red Cross in their youth area. He previously worked for the Boys and Girls Institute. He has been a youth worker for many years and also runs a range of seminars and workshops on behalf of a number of organisations including Praxis and Ara Taiohi. Rod is based in Wellington.

MentorPlus (Mentoring skills) workshop, 23 & 24 May - register online now

Places still available for our 2 day MentorPlus (Mentoring skills) workshop being held in Auckland:

Dates: 23 and 24 May 2017

Location: Parnell Rosepark Hotel, 92 Gladstone Road, Auckland

Register online now

find out more about this workshop

Local news

Brothers in Arm Youth Mentoring - Capturing the powerful self-talk of 4 young people involved in mentoring

We are thrilled to be able to share a powerful new 3 minute video Brothers In Arms Youth Mentoring has just released. It captures the powerful self-talk of four young people involved in mentoring and whilst their environments may not change, their perspective do. Please take the time to watch and share with your friends and colleagues.

https://vimeo.com/193289260

Youth Mentoring Resources - fun activities to bring to your mentoring sessions

When you are stuck for an idea on what to do with your mentee (young person) at your next meeting then this repository of activities is a great place to start. It covers a wide range of areas including: communication; relationship building; positive attitude and identity; culture and diversity and academic support. Thank you to the University of Auckland, the Great Potentials Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation for making this repository of activities freely available for everyone to use in their mentoring sessions.

Click on the following link to access these activities: http://www.education.auckland.ac.nz/en/for/current-students/facilities-and-resources/youth-mentoring-resources.html 

International research - Mentoring for first-generation immigrant and refugee youth 

As part of our ongoing series of reviews on the evidence for specific mentoring models or mentoring various youth populations, the National Mentoring Resource Center is happy to announce the release of Mentoring for First-Generation Immigrant and Refugee Youth authored by Dr. Ashmeet Oberoi of the University of Miami.

This review examines the growing body of evidence suggesting that mentoring programs, and mentors more broadly, can be powerful supports to immigrant and refugee youth and their families. The review concludes that “mentoring programs can serve as a useful form of support for FGIRY [first generation immigrant and refugee youth], facilitating outcomes in the areas of acculturation (both language and behavioral), social integration, and academic performance.” 

Please pass this e-newsletter on to others in your community who work with young people and have an interest in mentoring and like our facebook page to keep up to date.

Ngā mihi nui

Nicki McDonald

New Zealand Youth Mentoring Network
PO Box 99726 Newmarket
M: 027 520 2981
E: nicki@youthmentoring.org.nz