Through sport, mentorship, and meaningful moments, sports mentoring creates powerful connections that help young people feel seen, supported, and capable—both in school and beyond.
When a Young Person Feels Seen, Everything Can Change
For many young people, especially those facing challenges in education, home life or Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH), it’s not the curriculum or the classroom that creates change – it’s connection. It’s someone showing up consistently, with heart. Someone who doesn’t just teach, but truly gets them.
That’s exactly what mentoring offers
At Lexia we’ve seen that when that mentoring is used applied through sport – something physical, empowering and naturally engaging – the impact can be even deeper. For young people who struggle to open up, sports mentors often become the bridge. The person they trust. The adult who listens without judgement.
Why Sports Mentoring Matters More Than Ever
Right now, too many young people are being shaped by the wrong influences – simply because the right support isn’t there.
- 1 in 4 young people struggle with their mental health.
- There has been a 40% increase in school exclusions this year, with vulnerable young people most at risk.
- Many don’t feel safe or supported enough to talk about what’s going on at home, or how they’re feeling.
This is where sports mentoring steps in – not as a quick fix, but as a consistent, caring presence. A great mentor helps a young person see their own potential. They help build the emotional tools to navigate life’s challenges. And perhaps most importantly, they show that someone cares enough to show up, again and again.
This is exactly why we at Lexia, do what we do.
The Unique Power of Sports Mentors
Not every young person with SEMH will open up in a classroom setting. But give them a football, a basketball, a racket, a space to move – and they can start to feel understood – maybe for the first time.
Sport creates connection without pressure. It gives young people a reason to turn up and try. It’s in the everyday moments, the small interactions and shared experiences, where the real mentoring begins to take shape.
Sports mentors bring something powerful:
- Relatability
Many have lived experience or backgrounds that mirror the young people they support. - Trust
They earn it not through authority, but through showing up with authenticity. - Motivation
Sport naturally encourages goal-setting, teamwork and resilience. - Belief
Sometimes it takes just one positive influence to help a young person see what they’re capable of.
We’ve seen young people who once lashed out or struggled to regulate their emotions in school begin to grow in confidence – both in the classroom and in their relationships. These young people need consistency, they need someone who is patient, and caring. This work isn’t always easy – but it’s always worth it.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
One young person we supported was on the verge of permanent exclusion, disengaged from school and often involving himself with the wrong crowds. But through boxing sessions with his sports mentor – a mentor who had faced his own struggles – the young person started treating his education, and his future more seriously.
This is the power of mentoring done right. It’s not about sport alone. It’s about what sport makes possible – trust, transformation, and the chance to believe in yourself again.
Want to Make a Difference?
Whether you’re already working with young people or simply passionate about using sport to help others, you could be the mentor a young person is desperately waiting for.
At Lexia, we train and support mentors from all walks of life – because what matters most isn’t the perfect CV. It’s heart, commitment, and the ability to connect
👉 You can apply today
Or if you know someone who’d make an incredible mentor, please share this with them.
Together, we can keep showing up for the young people who need us most.
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