Mentoring and me

I decided to get involved with the Mayor’s programme, as clichéd as it sounds, because I wanted to try and give something back.  I mentor and it is so rewarding. There’s nothing better than seeing someone you’ve mentored starting to change. It’s the best feeling in the world. 

The Mayor’s mentoring programme is focusing on young men in some of the toughest parts of London and helping them to see a future. So they can believe that there is an alternative to the life of gangs and violence.

As a mentor, you need to be able to empathise with what these young men are going through.  If you have the right life experience I believe you will make a difference.

I know what it's like to be on the wrong side of the tracks. I had some tough times when I was younger so I can relate to what these kids are going through.

Mentoring isn’t easy. You’re not just going to start talking to them and they’ll immediately change their ways. It takes time to break habits. You need to stick with them too. You can’t come in and say I want to help, and then when the going gets tough abandon them. That’s exactly what they don’t need. You’re there so they know someone cares for them no matter what.

The first time I was mentored was by a guy who used to take me to football. I didn’t realise it at the time, but he took me on even though I didn’t like it. I thought he was getting into my business. Now I understand he was just trying to make me see that actions can have consequences later on in life. He used to say, no matter what you do it will be hard.

I think it’s even harder for kids growing up today. We’re living in a society where material things are so important to people. Often people don’t want to put in the hard work to achieve success. But we also have university students who can’t get jobs let alone people who haven’t done well in school.

Fortunately, I ended up playing football. However, even in the world of professional football, I realised that nothing comes easy. In my position, I can tell people it’s all a case of hard work.

I also realise now that when people don’t want to give you advice, that’s when you’ve really got to worry because that’s when they’ve given up on you. I’ve got some guys I still mentor from the prison system, in football and in general, and I tell them, I won’t give up on you as long as you’re trying to change yourself. As hard as it is, you’ve got to give yourself the best possible chance to have a decent life.

The Mayor’s mentoring programme will give young people that chance to learn from the experience of others and for the mentors to change someone’s life. Take that step now and find out what difference you can make.

Sign up to register as a mentor now

Find out more about the mentoring programme