A New Chapter – Therapeutic Alliance Mentoring

2nd April 2026

YLF launches its Therapeutic Alliance mentoring across Kent and Medway

A New Chapter for Young People

YLF is proud to announce the launch of its new Therapeutic Alliance Mentoring service, delivering vital early intervention support to young people across Kent and Medway.

This new service forms part of a wider Therapeutic Alliance partnership, bringing together health, community and voluntary sector organisations to transform how children and young people access emotional wellbeing support.

Working in Partnership Across Kent and Medway

The Therapeutic Alliance Mentoring service is being delivered as part of a major regional partnership across Kent and Medway, designed to provide a coordinated and community-based response to young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing needs.

This partnership brings together NHS services, local authorities, and specialist voluntary organisations, ensuring young people can access a broad range of early intervention support in their communities from mentoring and peer support to creative and therapeutic activities.

In Kent, the programme forms part of a county-wide alliance led by Salus delivering innovative, evidence-based interventions to support young people with emerging emotional wellbeing needs, helping them access the right support earlier and closer to home.

In Medway, the Therapeutic Alliance led by North Kent Mind represents a significant investment in early help services for children and young people from age 5, offering a combination of face-to-face, community-based and digital support.

Within this wider system, YLF plays a vital role by delivering trusted, relationship-based mentoring, ensuring young people have consistent support from a positive adult role model – something proven to improve confidence, resilience and long-term outcomes.

A Timely Response to Growing Need

Growing up can be challenging, and for many young people, the right support at the right time can be life-changing. YLF’s new service has been designed to provide accessible, non-clinical early help, ensuring young people feel heard, valued and supported before challenges escalate.

Through this programme, trained volunteer mentors will work directly with young people to:

Boost emotional wellbeing and confidence
Build resilience and social skills
Develop positive aspirations for the future

Support will be delivered through one-to-one mentoring and small group sessions, tailored to individual needs and circumstances.

You can read more about the programme and its delivery on our website here.

Volunteers at the Heart of the Service

At the core of the programme are YLF’s dedicated volunteer mentors. They are positive role models who provide consistent, trusted support to young people.

YLF is now calling on people across Kent and Medway to step forward and join this new initiative.

As a volunteer mentor, you will:

Be a trusted listening ear and role model
Help create safe, nurturing spaces for young people
Support young people to build confidence, skills and hope for the future

No previous mentoring experience is required just empathy, commitment and a desire to make a difference. Volunteers receive full training, ongoing support and supervision throughout their journey.

This new Therapeutic Alliance Mentoring service represents a significant step forward in ensuring that every young person has access to the support they need to thrive – delivered locally, collaboratively, and at the right time.