about.

What Do We Do?

Ment4 provides one-to-one specialist mentoring for 11 to 18 year olds with emotional and behavioural difficulties based in and around Croydon. We help those vulnerable to crime, non-attending or excluded from schools, those judged as particularly vulnerable by Children's Social Care, and direct referrals from families. 

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How We Help?

Mentors will spend 5-10 hours a week with each young person, in order to identify causes of problems and behaviour responses. This time is also used to establish meaningful connection and build rapport. A 'goal plan' is drawn up for each young person and progress towards those goals are reported in weekly reports sent to the referrer. In that way they will have a detailed picture of the issues and progress throughout.

 

Mentors become a 'trusted adult' in the young person's life, becoming a supportive representative on the young person's behalf whilst working alongside the parent, school, peers, and other agencies. The mentor serves as a role model, inspiring the young person with new perspective and opportunities through their own life experiences.

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For those caught up in crime, we help them discover positive alternatives to wrong practices. For those struggling in education, we help identify causes of difficulties and work with teaching staff to build long-term stability in behaviour and attendance. And alongside that, we always work closely with families, giving them support, encouragement and coaching boundaries, where necessary.

 

Practically speaking, a mentoring day can involve attending court meetings, meeting teachers, setting up training and employment appointments, or spending time talking over a milkshake or a game of table tennis. Through these, we build trust, respect, opportunities and hope for the future.

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How You Can Make A Referral

A Referral Form is available for download in our Resources section or you can email an enquiry or request a referral via info@ment4.org. We also welcome a call for an initial discussion. If suitable, we meet the young person with the referral agency and introduce our mentor. To help get management budgetary approval, we are happy to provide a written emailed proposal that can be easily forwarded to those making decisions. At the start of a programme we set up a Service Level Agreement with the referring agency or family and commit to providing monthly invoicing of charges and weekly reporting.

 

Our Christian Approach

MENT4 is a faith-based mentoring charity supporting young people aged 11–18 who are facing emotional, behavioural, or relational challenges. Rooted in our Christian faith, we believe every young person has intrinsic value, purpose and potential.

Our team and trustees are committed Christians, and our faith shapes the way we work, the compassion we show, and the hope we offer. While we welcome young people of all beliefs, we aim to create an environment where the Christian message of hope, identity and transformation can be shared naturally and appropriately. When invited, we are open about our faith, answering questions and exploring how Christian principles can support personal growth, resilience and positive decision-making.

 

MENT4’s mentoring programmes offer consistent relational support, helping young people build confidence, develop healthier behaviours, and find direction. Our work is grounded in Christian values of love, integrity, forgiveness and restoration, and these foundations are evident in the way we mentor, encourage and guide young people.

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We work closely with schools, professionals and families to provide one-to-one support that helps young people thrive practically, emotionally and spiritually. Where a young person expresses interest, our mentors are equipped to share the Christian gospel and explore faith in a sensitive and respectful way.

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Our desire is to see young people experience positive change and discover hope for their future — a hope we believe is ultimately found in Christ.