Shining the spotlight on one of our Surrey mentors...

We were delighted to welcome Julie to the Big Brothers Big Sisters Surrey mentoring programme earlier this year, where she was matched with H, a ten-year-old girl who has experienced significant challenges in her young life.

With an unstable home environment and sporadic contact with her father, H was identified as a child who could greatly benefit from having a trusted, consistent adult in her life. Through mentoring, she has gained exactly that.

Since being matched, Julie and H's relationship has flourished and grown into a strong, trusting bond that provides H with stability, encouragement and a safe space to simply be herself. Julie has also built a positive relationship with H's mother, creating a supportive network around the family.

Every Wednesday after school, the pair spend time together, from days out to simple home based activities such as cooking, baking and playing football in the garden. These moments are helping to build confidence, resilience and lasting memories.

One of the most remarkable changes has been H's engagement and confidence. When they first met, she was rarely without her phone. Today, when she is with Julie, her phone is forgotten as she becomes fully immersed in their time together. It is a powerful reflection of the value H places on their relationship.

For children like H, consistency can be life-changing. Having a reliable adult who shows up week after week, listens without judgement and genuinely cares can make an incredible difference to a young person's wellbeing and future outlook.

Julie and H's story is a wonderful example of the impact mentoring can have on children and young people facing difficult circumstances or in need of a positive role model in their lives.

Could you mentor a child who needs someone in their corner?

To learn more about our Surrey and West Sussex mentoring programmes, visit the FAQs section of our website and get in touch through our online contact form.