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Testimonials for

Mentors2

(Mentors: Boys2Men)

FEEDBACK From PARTICIPANTS

Comments From Mentees:

  • thought the programme was ‘wicked’

  • asked if would attend follow up programmes said ‘Yeah defo, I’m definitely coming’

  • asked how would you attract particular qualities in friends, responded ‘be those things’

  • ‘upset that it’s over’

  • ‘I want to carry on with the course, it’s really good’

  • would have liked more time / longer course

  • asked if it has helped to be around positive male role models, if it has helped raise self-esteem, commented that ‘I thought I was just going to be grumpy all my life but I realised that in a short space of time, you can just change yourself, and what you think about other people.’

  • regarding tools learned on the programme, (x) says he uses it to change his thoughts to affect how he feels and behaves. Said it's hard to do it, but being on the course has helped. Acknowledged that it gets easier to stop himself getting wound up using the things he’s learned

  • asked if it has helped to be around good male role models, (x) said ‘can I just say something about that – it’s actually helped my behaviour because I used to be a right ******** with everyone. I used to be dead moody but my Mum told Trish that my behaviour’s getting a lot better and she thinks it has been a good influence on me.’

  • asked if he’s felt more supported said ‘yes, and I’ve made new friends’

  • asked if he would do it again, (x) said ‘definitely’

  • asked what qualities, if any, boys felt it’s ok for a man to have that they maybe felt different about before, (x) commented that he’d felt upset about something the other day and while with his girlfriend and one of her friends, felt he didn’t want to show it but eventually, he had. The girls had been very touched by it and commented how nice it was that he was able to show his sensitive side.

Comments From Parents:

  • he has really enjoyed it

  • his school report says he’s really matured in the last few weeks

  • he’s been a lot more interactive than he usually is and is communicating a lot better

  • he’s been more outgoing

  • it’s been really therapeutic for him

  • has told his Dad he’s learned about himself and about how he can be

  • his vocabulary has grown and he seems to express himself much better

  • developed a larger vocabulary / dyslexia has even improved

  • self-esteem has improved & we’ve noticed he’s more willing to engage in conversation and is also able to interject without appearing apprehensive

  • attitude has also improved & he appears more willing to engage in activities

  • behaviour has been a concern however the improvement has been noticeable

  • level of motivation has improved – other adults have noticed a change in his attitude and have stated what a kind and helpful person he is and how he gets more involved with activities now

  • at school his behaviour has been more positive

  • he has said he enjoyed all the course, particularly the fire station

  • has told us how the programme has helped him to develop as a person and now feels more at ease with himself

  • for (x) to come home and say how much he enjoyed the programme was extremely beneficial to all of us

  • when asked if he would recommend the course? Dad says ‘Yes definitely, due to it’s structured and very interactive way of assisting the children.’

  • Mum says (x) has absolutely loved it

  • he has matured in last few weeks

  • he doesn’t really stick to things so it’s been great to see him stick to this

  • he was never interested in doing anything, now he wants to do things – he’s much more motivated

  • commented that she was really surprised he even turned up for the litter pick yet alone enjoy it

  • she (and he) are sorry it’s over

  • Mum has used Wednesdays as a bit of an incentive for him and it’s worked really well

  • says he’s been a lot better in his attitude – was quite cheeky before but he doesn’t answer back as much and doesn’t argue when she says ‘no’ (always did before)

  • now wants to join the fire service cadets

  • he doesn’t normally mix well but he’s got a lot more confidence now

  • he’s shown a lot more understanding of other people’s points of view

  • his attendance at school had been about 50% but he hasn’t missed a day in last 3 weeks of the course

  • he has really looked forward to Wednesdays and his behaviour has been noticeably more enthusiastic, motivated and positive on that day

  • Mum says there has been massive change in him, especially in the last 2 weeks and she’s been really impressed with him

  • he’s been so proud of himself and his Mentee Handbook and certificate has taken pride of place on the unit – he keeps admiring it and he wants a frame for his photo and certificate (didn’t even ask for that for karate and other things he’s done!)

  • (x) has even said he wants to give up smoking, and it has really surprised her for him to be so up front about this that he’s even written it in his book

  • (x) has formed a very positive friendship with (x) – they have been a really good influence on each other, they’re good together and they don’t get in any trouble

  • noticed loads of good things since (x) has been on the course – says he had no detentions in the penultimate week of the course (usually has 6 or 7 per week) and his teacher invited him to show his immaculate report to the head it was so improved. The last week he wasn’t even on report – this is a big improvement for him

  • (x) is controlling his temper much more and it just seems to fizzle out now where it used to escalate, especially when playing on xbox (says he used to go mad at the games and swear a lot where now he doesn’t swear as much and there’s no conviction in it at all)

  • Mum says all the things on the flyer that was given to him for the course – he’s gained all of that!

  • (x) doesn’t talk much about things he does but he has enjoyed it, especially the Fire Fighter Experience

  • (x) is the type of boy that wouldn’t have kept coming if he wasn’t enjoying it. (He has a form of autism and is under the hospital.) Has apparently stopped going to lots of other things because he wasn’t enjoying them

  • he was amazed at how much litter they collected on the litter pick

  • asked Mum if she would recommend the course to others, she says ‘Yes. I can see how the course would help with confidence, and some with their behaviour/attitude.’

  • Mum’s general comment: ‘Usually if (x) does not like something he will point blank refuse to go, so I guess we had a happy (x). He obviously had confidence to keep attending the course and enjoying it! I’m glad he attended, met new people, gave his best shot at the activities to join in. That can be a lot in its self to ask for with (x)!’

Comments From Mentors:

  • (x) opened up and let people in a bit more as the weeks went by. The course enabled him

  • (x) has grown in confidence. He’s been able to hold a conversation with me towards the end of the programme where at the start, it was quite difficult to hold his attention

  • (x) commented to me that he feels higher self-esteem and is more confident on Wednesdays - and how much he looked forward to coming to the sessions

  • (x) was challenged to think differently

  • (x) seems to have moved from rushing to demonstrate that he knows a lot about life to considering more carefully his contribution to discussions and has shown increased maturity in that he has become more reflective and less reactive

  • a disagreement in the sports hall between (x) and (x) diffused very quickly without any intervention from adults (where previously Mentors had had to intervene)

  • after both certificate session and video diary, (x) showed maturity in approaching me to shake my hand and thank me – I was very impressed with this. He came to the programme quite quick to jump to the defensive, with hair-trigger reactions, and he’s become much more able to really think about others and consider his responses before acting. He seems keen to make a good impression where he showed little concern about this at the start of the programme

  • (x) has hugely improved in terms of his maturity in the group and demonstrated new patience and self-control – raised his hand, waited to be invited to speak, offered the floor to others before he added more, gave mature and well thought out comment, showed appreciation, showed a new sense of pride in himself

  • (x) learned to admit his failings and how to deal with them. Got encouragement to curb his aggression/temper and faced some of his fears

  • (x) was a bit daft at the beginning but came out of his shell a bit more through the weeks / his confidence grew / made relationships

  • (x) told me he has overcome his fear of heights / was keen to talk about how he’s enjoyed his time on the course / has shown more willingness to engage in a conversation with an adult towards the end of the programme. I feel he stands a little straighter and seems to have grown in confidence

  • strategies learned made (x) realise what he does not like in others

  • a Mentor asked (x) how he was enjoying the programme and he said he really liked coming to the sessions

  • (x) was thoughtful – he wanted to learn and take on board what was being offered. I believe he benefited from most weeks

  • (x) appeared to have difficulty trusting adults but he was able to engage and experience positive interaction with adults and support, feedback and encouragement from others in the group to help build his trust. He was able to let his guard down most through warm-up games and activities

  • (x) was able to recognise that his behaviour leads to repercussions which he could avoid by implementing tools learned on the programme

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