Marv

At TWMAD, our first mentoring programme, Ignite Your Future, marked the beginning of our journey to inspire the next generation. Launched in late 2017, we delivered this programme intensively into several schools in partnership with both Staffordshire & Keele Universities Higher Horizons+ departments. The mission was simple: to connect children with their strengths, create a space to focus on their futures, and help them identify a career path that would enable them to live each day in FLOW—doing what they love and thriving. Recently, I had a chance encounter that reminded me of why we do what we do. A young [...]

Kerry initially faced challenges engaging with services, driven by a strong desire to avoid feeling "different." She also became entangled in negative friendships that reinforced her sense of isolation. With a possible undiagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Kerry often felt misunderstood, which heightened her struggles. These difficulties left both her mum and her school deeply concerned about her mental health and how these challenges might impact her education and overall well-being. Our mentoring sessions were intentionally scheduled with flexibility, taking place outside school hours to help Kerry avoid feeling different or singled out. We focused on creating a supportive and inclusive [...]

At TWMAD, we work with young people facing significant challenges, helping them make safer, healthier choices through 1:1 mentoring support. Mo is one such young person. Vulnerable and at risk, he has been involved in county lines, associated with concerning friendships, and witnessed violence that no young person should experience. Despite these challenges, our aim is to guide him toward positive change. During a recent session, Mo disclosed something that surprised even our experienced mentor: he had access to a knife. Mo explained that he felt he needed it for protection, but he was also deeply conflicted about carrying it. He [...]

At TWMAD, we are excited to announce our sponsorship of the Milton Mavericks U9s for the upcoming season! This partnership is about more than just sports kits; it's about empowering young people to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience—both on and off the field. When the kids first saw their new kits, their smiles and excitement were absolutely priceless. It's a moment that reminds us of the power of sport to unite and inspire. We are proud to play a part in supporting these young athletes as they enter their new league and embark on a season of growth and achievement. This [...]

In this edition, we’re sharing the impactful journey of a young person who, through our mentoring, is learning to navigate and overcome deep feelings of neglect and abandonment. Like all of us, she needs to feel loved and valued, but her journey has led her to express these needs in ways that have often been harmful to herself. Our mentors are working closely with her, helping her find healthier ways to feel connected and valued. Yasmin came to our program grappling with feelings of neglect and abandonment by her parents. These deep-seated feelings manifested in self-harm, truancy, negative friendships, and risky [...]

Are you worried about the wellbeing of one of your students but lack the capacity to offer the support they need? Is your school struggling to meet the needs of some of your students and need a fresh approach? Do you have concerns about the wellbeing of any of your students but lack the capacity to offer the support they need? If you could find a solution and support this student to feel better would you be interested in doing so? Accessing our TWMAD mentoring services has never been easier. Recently, we attended meetings at new schools in the area facing [...]

TWMAD News will present weekly case studies which briefly describe the journey and impact of our 1:1 mentoring services. Our TWMAD mentors are dedicated to supporting vulnerable children in our community. Every referral we receive is unique, and we work closely with each young person to create tailored action plans designed to guide them through times of uncertainty. Imogen a young person under our care, faced severe emotional challenges, including self-harm, substance use, truancy, and multiple instances where she was found at a bridge contemplating self-harm. Over a series of 1:1 mentoring sessions, we focused on helping Imogen build trust, articulate [...]

As the 23/24 academic school year draws to a close, the team at TWMAD would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your partnership and support. This year, TWMAD has had the privilege of playing various roles within many schools across Staffordshire, who have provided us with opportunities to continue delivering and developing our 1:1 mentoring support for the children who needed a little extra assistance. We have also had the pleasure of organising both primary and secondary emotion coaching drop-in sessions, developing a program for school refusers, and delivering our "On the Brink" and "Exploring Masculinities" presentations and workshops in [...]