Kent Reliance Community Foundation Invests in Youth Mentoring Across Kent
We are proud to announce our recent grant to the Young Lives Foundation (YLF), a vital step in our commitment to supporting young people across Kent. This funding will enable YLF to strengthen and expand its crucial mentoring programme, helping them reach more of the over 100 young people currently on their waiting list.
The grant will specifically fund a new coordinator who will be responsible for recruiting, training, and supporting a team of dedicated volunteer mentors. These mentors will provide essential one-on-one and small group support in schools, local communities, and even through outdoor activities.
Mentoring offers a transformative lifeline to disadvantaged young people. By building consistent, trusting relationships with trained mentors, they can develop improved confidence, resilience, and aspirations. This support empowers them to succeed in their education, make positive life choices, and build strong community connections. We believe that investing in mentoring is investing directly in brighter futures and stronger communities for everyone in Kent.
Kristy Tidey, Director of Youth Programmes at The Young Lives Foundation, highlighted the impact of our partnership: “This funding allows us to respond to the growing need for mentoring in our Kent communities. This grant gives us the opportunity to extend that support to many more young people who are waiting for help and to build a larger network of dedicated volunteer mentors. We would like to extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Kent Reliance Community Foundation for their generous support, which is helping us to transform the lives of young people.”
The impact of this work is clear, as shared by one of the young people in the programme: “Since I’ve started meeting with 'C', she has been a really positive influence in my life. I felt at ease speaking with her and her encouragement made a big difference. She's kind and approachable and I always looked forward to our meetings. Thank you so much for everything!”