Recruitment of Mentors and Mentees

Recruitment is all about attracting and engaging mentors, mentees and their parents / caregivers who are going to be a good fit with your programmes core purpose and objectives.

Key activities include:

• Mentor recruitment plan
• Mentee recruitment plan
• Mentee referral process
• Recruitment materials
• Recruitment methods

Refer to section 5.1 of the Guide NZYMN Effective Practice Guide_Recruitement

You may also find this checklist useful: NZYMN Effective and Safe Practice in Youth Mentoring_Recruitment Checklist

Further advice

Recruiting mentors for a programme requires a structured and strategic plan which needs to be reviewed regularly.

Recruiting quality mentors suitable for a youth mentoring programme will be time-consuming and will require patience, perseverance, organisation and the ongoing development of networks within the local and wider community.

The American based National Mentoring Center stresses the importance of promoting the youth mentoring organisation's name in the community and having a clear written recruitment plan before actively trying to recruit volunteer mentors. Their checklist for developing an effective recruitment plan includes the following ideas:

• Identify the number of new mentors you want to recruit and a deadline for recruiting them
• Develop a recruitment timeline and assign staff (or volunteers) to be responsible for each item in the timeline
• Define the eligibility requirements and preferences for mentors
• Identify factors that could motivate people to volunteer
• Develop a mentor job description
• Create a recruitment message and materials
• Create a presentation to give to community groups that will help people become excited about the possibility of becoming a mentor
• Decide on the recruitment strategies you will use
• Identify and approach organisations and businesses that can connect you to potential mentors.

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Some ideas for recruiting mentors might include:

• Sending an email pack for distribution to companies, volunteer organisations, participating schools and so on
• Design and distribute posters
• Engage community service groups
• Exhibit materials at Conferences and Conventions
• Approach local companies
• Word of mouth
• Libraries and trade publications
• Marae
• Local newspaper advertisements
• Adult Education courses
• University/Tertiary courses
• Round Table, Lions, Rotary
• Speak in churches and other faith institutions
• Direct referrals from faith or community leaders
• Youth Mentoring organisations' websites
• Mentors recruit mentors
• Target radio programmes and Television

Brochures or leaflets, together with business cards, could be handed out at every opportunity. In addition to some of the above, other places to leave material could include:

• Volunteer agencies
• Community centres and agencies
• Religious and faith groups
• Doctors' surgeries
• Hairdressers
• Police Stations
• Shopping Malls
• Bus/train/ferry stations
• Fire stations
• Service areas for young people
• Gyms and sports clubs
• Universities e.g., Alumni; Faculties of Counselling, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Law