At Fight for Peace, we know that young people thrive when they feel seen, safe and understood – and that trusted adults are often the catalyst for that change. That’s why mentoring is central to our Five Pillar approach, extending our support beyond the gym through a combination of Boxing and Martial Arts, Youth Leadership, Education and Employability and Support Services.

Youth Mentor Parisse Charles has been delivering intensive one-to-one sessions in a local secondary school, tailoring her support to each young person’s needs. By embedding mentoring into local schools, we can reach young people where they are, provide the guidance and support to those who might otherwise go unsupported – helping them gain the tools they need to flourish.

“One thing I’ve seen in the young people I work with is a lack of self-esteem – and that can lead to so many other issues, including self-harm. There’s often disruption at home, and I’ve really noticed a big disconnect between parents and children. A lot of young people feel misunderstood, like their parents don’t really hear them. That disconnect becomes a huge factor in how they see themselves.

Mentoring can be a safe space for them. A lot of young people don’t feel they have someone in a position of authority that they can trust, especially if they’ve had negative experiences before, whether in school or elsewhere. Coming in as a new face helps as it creates the opportunity for young people to open up without feeling judged.

When I first meet them, I always say, ‘I don’t expect you to tell me everything right now.’ It’s about building comfort and trust over time. I create a space that’s completely non-judgemental. Usually within three sessions, they’re telling me things they’ve probably never told anyone. That’s when you know they feel safe.

I base my support on need. Some young people might have five sessions, others eight or nine, and for higher levels of complexity it can be up to fifteen sessions, sometimes spread over six months. It’s intensive, but that consistency shows them someone is committed to them – that they’re not just another case or referral.

I think sometimes the young people who are doing well academically get overlooked. A student can be getting straight A’s and still be struggling with suicidal thoughts, but because they’re achieving, no one thinks to ask deeper questions. The young people who show challenging behaviour often get the most attention, but the quiet ones can go under the radar.

Schools are such an important way for us to reach young people because for some of them, school is the only place they go. They’re not accessing extra-curricular activities outside of it. By building relationships with schools, we can show young people what’s available – not just mentoring, but other opportunities too, including the martial arts programmes we offer at Fight for Peace. I’m planning to deliver an assembly to give students more insight into what we do, because there will be young people who could benefit but simply don’t know that support exists.

There’s also a wider disconnect between adults and young people. Sometimes adults see a group of young people and assume the worst, when they could just be standing there minding their business. As much as there is some trouble, there are lots of young people who don’t get involved in those types of things. We need stronger relationships between generations, more understanding, and more spaces where young people feel heard.”

Parisse’s insights show how much young people benefit from safe, trusted adults and consistent support. To give them the best chance of positive, long-lasting futures, it requires schools, community organisations, and youth services to play a role in providing guidance, opportunities, and environments where young people can thrive and shape their own potential.

Thank you to the Charles Hayward Foundation for their ongoing support in helping us deliver this important work.