Strive Mentoring
Mentoring That Transforms Lives
Personalised 1:1 and group mentoring that places the young person at the centre of every decision — building confidence, resilience and clear pathways to a positive future.
“Putting Young People First, Every Step of the Way.”
At Strive Mentoring, our mission is to place the young person at the centre of every decision, intervention, and opportunity. We are committed to acting solely in their best interests, ensuring that each young person receives personalised support, meaningful engagement, and clear pathways towards a positive and sustainable future.
We recognise that no two young people are the same and that a “one size fits all” approach does not create meaningful change. Every programme is tailored to the individual — and because circumstances change, our approach stays flexible, responsive and focused on what works best for each young person at any given time.
Personalised support
Meaningful engagement
Positive futures
Early intervention and prevention are at the heart of our mentoring — helping young people make positive choices and succeed at school and beyond, through holistic support delivered alongside local services and schools.
Two ways we support young people
Every programme is tailored to the individual. We adapt our delivery to the right balance of group dynamics and individual needs.
1:1 Strive Mentoring
Intensive, one-to-one mentoring tailored to each individual — building trust through interests and passions, and supporting real, lasting change.
- Building positive relationships through interests and passions
- Setting clear, achievable goals in small steps
- Creating a personalised timetable
- Supporting positive behaviour change
- Developing emotional wellbeing and resilience
- Building confidence and self-belief
- Guiding pathways into education, training, work experience and employment
Duration
6 weeks min (flexible)
Time
1–2 hours per week
Where
School or community
How: coaching approach, sport sessions and community activities — visits to matches, events and more.
Group Mentoring Through Sport
Using sport and shared activities to engage young people, develop skills and build brighter futures — with referrals into 1:1 mentoring where more focused support is needed.
- Positive relationships with a trusted mentor
- Connection through shared interests
- Teamwork, leadership and communication skills
- Decision making, problem solving and accountability
- Choices, consequences and links to school and the wider community
- Pathway into 1:1 mentoring where needed
Group size
8–10 young people
Duration
6 weeks min (flexible)
Session
45 mins–2 hrs/week
Where
School — in/outdoors
Groups: KS3 & KS4, split by gender for stronger dynamics. Activities: dodgeball, boxing, football, basketball, pickleball and more — led by trained PE teachers.
Young people aged 11–16 who may be…
We meet young people where they are and help them get to where they want to be.
- Struggling with school engagement or attendance, refusing school, or on a part-time timetable
- On the verge of exclusion, or already excluded
- Displaying challenging behaviour or a high number of behaviour logs
- Experiencing difficulties at home
- Disadvantaged or vulnerable
- Involved in anti-social behaviour (ASB)
- Receiving a first-time youth caution (not including a conditional caution)
A structured, holistic model
Relationship-led and tailored to each young person — designed to create lasting change.
Relationship-led mentoring
Building strong, consistent and trusting relationships, with mentors matched on personality, background and interests. Without a positive relationship, no impact can happen.
Engagement through interests & passion
Using the activities young people love — sport, creative activities, trips and new environments — as a platform to build trust, confidence and motivation.
Structured development — the GROW model
Weekly journaling and reflection, goal setting and progress reviews, identifying barriers and solutions, and building accountability and motivation.
Education, training & employment pathways
Bespoke pathways — reintegration into school, college or training, tutoring and online education, work experience, and courses linked to sport, construction, trades and more.
Exit planning & long-term support
Clear exit plans from the outset, with long-term goals mapped and shared, so every young person leaves with a defined pathway into education, training or employment.
Our mentoring journey, step by step.
The GROW model
Every week we sit down and work through four simple questions.
Goals
What do we want to achieve?
Reality
Where are we right now?
Options
What choices do we have?
Will
What will we commit to?
Let's build a brighter future together
Medway based
Deep understanding of our local community
Skilled, caring team
Passionate, experienced and highly skilled mentors
20+ years combined
Experience across education and mentoring
Strong partnerships
Working hand-in-hand with schools and local services
Proven early impact
Positive feedback and rapid, hands-on delivery
Beyond sport
A wide network of opportunities and pathways
Frontline leadership
Our leadership team delivers on the ground
Flexible programmes
Responsive support that evolves with each journey
What schools, services and families say
Don't just take our word for it — here's what the people we work with have to say.
“Our pupils have really enjoyed the Turnaround project and initial data shows improvements for a number of the pupils which is positive to report.”
Matthew Piggot
Vice Principal, Strood Academy
“The students want to participate, even our most disaffected. The staff and coaches have a good working knowledge of safeguarding and implement this effectively when dealing with our vulnerable students — i.e. making us aware when a student is missing and supervising students at breaktime that are in but suspended. The staff can manage the students well and do not require further support from SLT. The staff are professional and punctual to their sessions. This is the first sports-based intervention that has requested written feedback. We would be keen to access this intervention again.”
Matt Fenton
Deputy Head, Victory Academy
Our son has been having one-to-one sessions with Rob for approximately eight months. During this time, I have noticed a massive improvement in his attitude. He is starting to think about his future and potential job opportunities.
Rob’s understanding of his needs and the support he provides have been amazing. He has helped with fitness and healthy eating, and our son really looks forward to the sessions. Rob focuses on his strengths, offering positive feedback that helps him grow in confidence and ability.
Communication is always excellent, giving valuable structure throughout the week. We only wish he had been introduced to Rob sooner, as he has had such a positive impact. If there were more people like Rob in mainstream schools, I believe our son would have had a more positive attitude towards school. We can’t thank Rob enough for all his continued support.
Parent
Young Person, 1:1 Mentoring
Strive Sports coaches have been truly outstanding, making a meaningful and lasting impact on the young people they work with by not only developing their sporting abilities but inspiring them to believe in themselves, set ambitious goals, and actively work towards their aspirations. Their approach goes far beyond coaching — they are genuine mentors and role models who consistently motivate, nurture confidence, and support personal growth both on and off the pitch. As a provider, Strive Sports has collaborated exceptionally well with us; communication has been strong, values clearly aligned, and there has been a real sense of unity and shared purpose throughout. Together, we have come together as one big team, and that has made all the difference. In particular, Rob, Chris, Sam, and Jess deserve huge recognition for their enthusiasm, professionalism, flexibility, and unwavering commitment to young people. Their passion shines through in everything they do, and they have played a vital role in the success of our work. We genuinely could not ask for a stronger, more dedicated partnership.
The impact of Strive Sports is evident not only in measurable outcomes, but in the confidence, resilience, and motivation we see growing in the young people week after week. The coaches consistently create safe, inclusive, and empowering spaces where young people feel heard, valued, and encouraged to push themselves at their own pace. They have an exceptional ability to adapt their approach to meet individual needs, recognising that development looks different for every young person. This personalised, youth-centred way of working has been instrumental in helping participants overcome barriers, broaden their aspirations, and recognise their own potential.
What truly sets Strive Sports apart is the authenticity and passion they bring to the partnership. Rob, Chris, Sam, and Jess have gone above and beyond at every opportunity, showing unwavering commitment, reliability, and a genuine care for the young people and the wider team around them. Their willingness to collaborate, reflect, and continuously improve has strengthened our provision and raised the overall quality of what we offer. There is a real sense of shared ownership and pride in our work together, and that unity has been felt by both staff and young people alike. Strive Sports are not just a delivery partner — they are a vital part of our team, and their contribution has been invaluable.
Charley Routledge
Medway Youth Service
Turning behaviour around through group mentoring
An eight-week group mentoring intervention in a secondary school, supporting a young person at risk of disengagement, truancy and negative peer influence. Through consistent mentoring, structured activities and strong relationship-building, the young person demonstrated significant improvements in attendance, behaviour and decision-making.
100%
Attendance across all mentoring sessions
8 weeks
From referral to removal from behavioural report
Re-engaged
With education and making positive choices
Background
A Year 9 student (aged 13–14) was referred by school staff due to:
- Persistent poor attendance
- Disengagement from lessons
- Ongoing behavioural concerns
- Risk of involvement in anti-social behaviour
The student had been placed on a behavioural report and was regularly missing lessons. External influences and peer pressure were also contributing to concerns around long-term wellbeing and safety.
Objectives
- Improve school attendance and engagement
- Reduce negative behaviour and remove behavioural monitoring
- Develop positive decision-making skills
- Build trust through a consistent mentor relationship
- Create a safe space for open discussion
- Ensure full participation in all sessions
Our approach
A structured, relationship-led mentoring programme was delivered over eight weeks, combining:
Team-building activities
To develop trust and communication
Sports-based sessions
To increase engagement and discipline
Boxing sessions
To support self-control and emotional regulation
Challenges along the way: initial resistance and low engagement, negative peer influences outside of school, and the time required to build trust and consistency.
Results & impact
After eight weeks:
- 100% attendance across all mentoring sessions
- Removed from behavioural report
- Noticeable improvement in behaviour and attitude in school
- Increased engagement in education
- Demonstrated positive decision-making outside school
- Reduced association with negative peer groups
What made the difference
- Consistent mentor presence and relationship-building
- Use of sport as a powerful engagement tool
- Creating a safe, non-judgemental space
- Structured sessions with clear goals
Wider impact: once trust was established, the young person showed increased self-reflection, greater awareness of consequences, and positive changes extending beyond school into daily life.
The power of early intervention
This case demonstrates the power of early intervention, consistency and trust, and engagement through interests. The young person successfully re-engaged with education and began making safer, more positive choices for their future.
“I feel like I can make better choices now and don't need to follow others.”
— Young Person
“The change in attitude and engagement has been extremely positive.”
— School Staff
Strive Mentoring, in full
Everything you need to know about our mentoring intervention. Read it below, or download a copy to share.
Download booklet (PDF)
Refer a young person
Schools, organisations, parents and carers — if you think a young person could benefit from Strive Mentoring, tell us a little about them and we'll be in touch.
Prefer to talk it through?
Get in touch to discuss how Strive Mentoring can support your young people. We're always happy to chat.
Strive Mentoring · Strive to be CIC · Putting young people first