For some young people, having one consistent adult who listens, understands and keeps showing up can make a real difference.
That is one of the biggest reasons mentors are needed in Devon. Across the county, young people are facing challenges around education, confidence, mental health, relationships and their hopes for the future.
A mentor cannot solve every problem. But they can give a young person space to talk, opportunities to grow and the reassurance that someone believes they can move forward.
If you have experience supporting young people and want your work to have a meaningful impact, you can explore opportunities to become a mentor with Lexia.
Why Mentors Are Needed in Devon Now
Every young person’s story is different.
Some may be finding school difficult. Others may feel disconnected from education, struggle with their confidence or need extra support to manage what is happening around them.
The need for personalised support is growing too. Devon County Council reports that the number of children and young people in Devon with an Education, Health and Care Plan has risen by 117% over seven years. The council highlights particular increases in autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs.
Behind every figure is a young person with their own strengths, interests, worries and ambitions.
Mentoring gives us the chance to see the person before the challenge.
Young People Want to Feel Heard
When young people are asked what matters to them, their answers tell us a lot.
In Devon’s 2025 Make Your Mark vote, 7,160 young people took part. Mental health support received more than 1,100 votes, while young people also highlighted issues including their future, safety, poverty, inequality and inclusion. For a young person trying to manage difficult emotions, uncertainty or changes in their life, having a trusted adult beside them can create valuable breathing room.
Mentors can help a young person break a difficult situation into smaller steps, recognise their progress and start thinking about what could come next.
What Can a Mentor Actually Do?
Mentoring is built around relationships.
The Education Endowment Foundation describes mentoring as pairing a young person with an older peer or adult who can act as a positive role model. It often aims to develop confidence, resilience, relationships and aspirations.
At Lexia, mentoring is individual to the young person.
A day might involve:
- Supporting a young person to reconnect with learning.
- Exploring interests, goals or future pathways.
- Building confidence through achievable activities.
- Practising communication and social skills.
- Helping them manage setbacks.
- Encouraging independence and better decision-making.
- Simply being a consistent person they know they can talk to.
Progress does not always arrive as one big breakthrough.
Mentoring Can Support Education Too
For young people who have struggled with attendance, returning to education can feel overwhelming.
Devon County Council recognises that regular absence can leave young people worried about falling behind and feeling disconnected from friends and school life.
Mentors can help rebuild that connection gradually.
Rather than focusing only on what a young person has missed, effective mentoring can help them recognise what they are capable of doing next.
That could mean establishing routines, building confidence outside the classroom, completing learning activities or developing the skills needed to engage again.
The goal is progress that feels realistic for the individual young person.
Could You Become a Mentor in Devon?
There is no single personality type that makes a good mentor.
People come to mentoring from education, youth work, care, coaching, community roles and many other backgrounds.
What matters is having genuine experience supporting young people, alongside patience, reliability and the ability to build professional relationships.
At Lexia, mentors receive training and ongoing support, and roles are focused on making meaningful connections with young people across the South West. You will also need to understand that trust takes time. A young person may not tell you much during your first meeting. They may test boundaries. They may have experienced adults coming in and out of their lives before. Consistency is important.
By continuing to listen, setting clear boundaries and recognising small steps forward, a mentor can gradually become someone that young person feels comfortable working alongside.
The Difference One Relationship Can Make
Mentoring is not about having all the answers.
It is about helping a young person discover more of their own.
When the right support is in place, a young person can begin to see possibilities that once felt out of reach. Confidence can grow. Goals can become clearer. Difficult days can become more manageable.
And for the mentor, there is the chance to see that progress happen in real time.
That is why mentors are needed in Devon — not simply to provide another service, but to build steady, meaningful relationships with young people who deserve the opportunity to move forward.
If you have experience supporting young people and believe you could bring consistency, patience and encouragement to someone’s journey, take a look at Lexia’s mentoring opportunities and apply to become a mentor.
Your experience could become part of a young person’s next step.
