Creative mentoring has been a rewarding new avenue of my work with young people; I have felt liberated from the constraints of my usual class teaching role in a Leicestershire secondary school. The training and ongoing support has been excellent and I would highly recommend working with the team at TMC.
I am currently able to mentor two young people in Year 6. One is in a mainstream setting and one at a special school. My primary aged mentees have been energetic, creative and full of surprises. Their honesty and expectations have forced me to raise my game; they are not afraid to let you know if they don’t like something. I’ve learnt to be full of energy and ready for potentially challenging interactions before each session. However, after initial hesitancy, my two young people now skip into the room and enjoy being able to create a whole host of things. This has meant I feel a huge sense of reward for my efforts. I find my sessions run best for a duration of one to one and a half hours; even the most enthralling materials can be tiring and they need a break by then.
My sessions have found a rhythm after over a year on TMC’s books. These current mentees have really needed me to bring a selection of arty goodies. Whilst some young people lead the way, my current mentees initially wanted clear direction from me. After a series of consistent sessions, they have learnt to run with it. Sometimes we talk about themes the week before and sometimes I just load up my trusty pink wheeled trolley and hope for the best. Activities have included a focus on a special interest: I’ve ‘artified’ Harry Potter; remote control cars; various animals; become much more proficient at origami; pushed the boundaries of abstract painting and played more doodle games than ever. Socials have been an endless source of inspiration despite me being in art education for 15 years!
I have needed to keep an open mind and be extremely flexible. Sometimes young people with complex home-life situations can be unpredictable; life outside of school is challenging for them, but I know what I offer in our sessions is a safe space for creativity to flow. The art liberates them and gives them some really purposeful, positive and enjoyable time in school. I know my trip down the M1 is always worth it when I see the look on their faces as they are creating something mega!
To learn more about Creative Mentoring with TMC, Creative Mentoring for children and young people, and how to join our pool of Mentors, visit the link below.