Mentoring offers young people a safe space to open up, share honestly, and grow in their faith and personal lives. But with that privilege comes responsibility—especially when it comes to safeguarding. Safeguarding means protecting a young person's right to a safe and supportive environment. As their mentor, there is a lot you can do to ensure you are working safely.

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Here are some top tips from the independent Safeguarding charity, Thirtyone:eight on creating safe places for mentoring.

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1. Before You Start

Before any mentoring begins, one-to-one work must be approved by your organisation. Your organisation will need to interview you. They will also want to carry out a criminal record check before you start mentoring.

It is good practice to complete training on safeguarding children and young people. This will help you to understand how to work safely, how to spot signs of abuse, and how to respond to any disclosures.

It’s also really important to familiarise yourself with the organisation’s safeguarding policy and practices.

 

2. Boundaries

Clear boundaries from the outset are vital when working 1-2-1. Young people feel safe when they understand what to expect from your time together. Talk openly about your expectations of them and what your role does and doesn’t involve. It’s also important to agree on what confidentiality looks like and how you will communicate with one another. Having this conversation early on brings clarity and gives you both something to refer back to if boundaries are crossed.

 

3. Confidentiality

Confidentiality is very different to secrecy. Never promise you will keep a secret. Instead, offer confidentiality. Confidentiality means you won’t share what they tell you, unless you have a safeguarding concern, at which point you may raise the issue with the safeguarding lead. You may even have a confidentiality agreement that you go through before you start working together, so that this is understood right from the start.

 

4. Where To Meet

Where you meet matters. Public places are ideal, as they offer a degree of privacy without isolation. If using a church building, opt for a room with a window and make sure someone else is nearby. Make sure that others—such as parents, supervisors, or colleagues—know when and where you’re meeting. This provides a layer of accountability for both you and the young person.

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Never meet in a young person’s bedroom or behind closed doors without visibility.

 

5. Record Keeping

Make brief notes of your meetings and keep them securely. This protects you, provides continuity of care, and ensures transparency. If anything of concern is raised in your sessions, make sure you write it down immediately, with the date and time, and ensure you use the words of the young person as much as possible. Try not to add your opinion or interpretation. All safeguarding concerns should be raised with the designated safeguarding lead.

 

6. Review The Need

One-to-one mentoring shouldn’t become an open-ended arrangement. Agree upfront how long you’ll meet for, and review it regularly. This keeps things healthy and prevents dependency.

 

7. Online Messaging

You may need to communicate with your young person online, for example, to confirm a place or time to meet. It is advisable to use platforms where messages can be easily tracked, such as email. For transparency and protection of you both avoid the use of direct or private messages on social media. Keep any online conversation short and factual, and make sure your language is simple so it cannot be misconstrued.

 

Final Thoughts

Mentoring young people is a gift—and safeguarding them is part of that gift. By taking wise, transparent steps, we protect not just the young people we care for, but also ourselves and the integrity of the work we do.

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If you’re ever unsure, Thirtyone:eight offers a free helpline on 0303 003 1111 and lots of helpful resources online at www.thirtyoneeight.org/get-help.