One hour of focused learning
Accessible, paced educational support designed to reduce barriers, strengthen engagement and help the young person experience achievable progress.
Youth mentoring across Greater Manchester
Helping young people move onwards.
Targeted mentoring and alternative provision support for young people aged 10–16 experiencing persistent school non-attendance or behavioural challenges.
Education-ledPractical skill developmentConsistent mentoring
Re-engagement with purpose
Support built around the young person.
When mainstream learning is not working, a young person may need more than another timetable. They need consistency, trust and an approach that recognises how they learn best.
Onwards Mentoring combines focused education, interest-led skill development and one-to-one mentoring. Each session creates space to rebuild confidence, develop practical strengths and support a positive return to learning.
A genuinely individual offer
One young person.
One young person.
One unique programme.
No two young people arrive with the same experiences, abilities or ambitions. Every programme is created specifically for the individual—not selected from a standard package.
Built from the young person upwards
We begin with who they are and where they want to go.
We identify the young person’s strengths, areas for development, interests and preferred ways of learning. These become the foundation for an achievable programme with clear goals and regular review.
01
Strengths and needsWe recognise what the young person already does well and identify the barriers or skills that need focused support.
02
Interests that build confidenceSport, fitness, creativity, practical work or career interests are used to create motivation, achievement and a stronger sense of identity.
03
Skills for adult lifeYoung people develop communication, problem-solving, independence, routines and other skills that help them function confidently in everyday life.
04
Routes towards employmentWhere appropriate, we identify suitable practical courses, employability activities and recognised opportunities connected to the young person’s future goals.
Our three-hour session
01 · EDUCATION
02 · SKILLS
03 · MENTORING
Three connected hours. One clear direction.
Every session balances learning, practical development and trusted conversation. Activities are shaped around the young person’s needs, interests and agreed outcomes.
One hour of skill development
Interest-led activity linked to careers, sport, fitness or practical employment skills. We recognise that ability is not limited to classroom learning.
One hour of mentoring
A consistent space for advice, guidance and honest conversation with a trusted adult who listens and helps the young person work through challenges.
Could this approach support a young person you work with?
Request a referral formRequest our referral form and we will guide you through the next steps.
Our approach
Practical, relational and centred on progress.
We work alongside the young person and their professional network, maintaining clear goals while adapting delivery to what helps the individual engage.
Rebuild engagement
Develop routines and positive experiences connected to learning.
Increase confidence
Recognise strengths and create realistic opportunities for success.
Develop life skills
Build practical, social and employability skills for the future.
Strengthen support
Give young people a reliable adult relationship and a safe space to talk.
30
previously non-attending young people supported to re-engage and sit their GCSE examinations
This outcome was achieved through Compass98 between 2022 and 2024 using consistent, one-to-one programmes and realistic individual targets.
A message from the Founder
Experienced children’s services leader and Ofsted-registered manager
I progressed from frontline residential childcare through senior and deputy roles into registered management. This has given me a strong understanding of safeguarding, behavioural support, professional accountability and the needs of young people whose education has been disrupted.
Before Onwards Mentoring, I established and led Compass98 from 2022 to 2024. We used consistent one-to-one programmes and attainable targets to help young people reconnect with education.
My passion also comes from struggling with traditional teaching methods myself. I understand how easily ability can be overlooked when someone does not fit one way of learning. I want every young person to recognise their strengths and work towards goals they can be proud of.
Experience and standards
Led with accountability. Delivered with care.
I have developed Onwards Mentoring as non-school alternative provision, with a clear focus on safeguarding, purposeful education and measurable progress.
I will ensure our operating framework remains aligned with the Department for Education’s voluntary national standards for non-school alternative provision. Our safeguarding systems will reflect the robust expectations used across education and Ofsted-regulated children’s services, including safer recruitment, risk management, information sharing and professional accountability.
Safeguarding firstClear procedures, appropriate checks, risk management and prompt information sharing.
Individual planningSupport shaped around needs, interests, strengths and agreed referral outcomes.
Progress and reviewAttendance, engagement and outcomes monitored and shared with commissioners.
Professional partnershipConsistent communication with schools, local authorities and care teams.
Clear professional oversight
What commissioners receive.
Support is structured so schools, local authorities and care teams can understand what is being delivered, how risk is being managed and whether the agreed outcomes are being achieved.
01Individual support planClear goals shaped around the young person’s needs, strengths and interests.
02Risk managementProportionate planning informed by referral information and ongoing review.
03Attendance informationAccurate records showing participation and engagement with planned sessions.
04Progress reportingUseful updates against the agreed educational, personal and practical outcomes.
05Professional reviewsPlanned communication with commissioners and the wider professional network.
For professional referrers
Request a referral form.
Schools, local authorities and children’s care homes across Greater Manchester can use this short enquiry to request our full referral form.
1
Send your professional details
Let us know who you are, your organisation and the best way to contact you.
2
Receive the full referral form
We will email the referral form and explain how to return information securely.
3
Discuss suitability
Once we receive the completed form, we can discuss needs, outcomes and the proposed support.
Let’s find a way forward.
Serving schools, local authorities and children’s care homes across Greater Manchester.