Coronavirus

Due to the COVID-19 situation, some of the organisations listed on this site have posted service updates and will continue doing so. Many phone lines and websites are still available, however some contact details may have changed. Try the organisation's own website if you're having difficulty getting through.

If you have any queries, please email us at dos@reading.gov.uk or fis@reading.gov.uk

Starting Point Reading

Starting Point provides mentoring & creates opportunities, for young people ages 11-25. There are three main programmes available; Advance, Aspire & Action Media.

All mentoring has a relational, tailored, and holistic approach empowering young people to take ownership over their own journey.

Starting Point Advance is our exciting new mentoring programme, supporting young people aged 11-19 who are at risk of exclusion and/or becoming NEET upon leaving education. The aim of Advance is to enable young people thrive inside and outside of education, ensuring they have the tools and confidence to feel positive about their future. We also mentor young people who are at risk of exclusion/withdrawing from school to help them re-engage and prevent fixed term or permanent exclusions. We tailor the locations, times, and activities around each young person as well as their school or college’s timetable.

Starting Point Aspire supports young people aged 15 -25 throughout their journey of attaining, sustaining, and thriving within education, employment and training. We do this through carefully matching a young person to a mentor who acts as a consistent role model, tailoring the support to each individuals’ unique needs and aspirations. Our mentoring has a holistic approach focusing on both practical support, such as CV writing or interview skills, and social-emotional support, such as building confidence and self-esteem.

Action Media is a young person led production company for those aged 15 -25 year olds that provides meaningful work placements in a creative industry. Action Media runs weekly on a Friday afternoon at our Mentoring Hub & includes:

Camera Work
Logo Design
Story Boarding
Branding
Sound Recording
Video Planning

Check out our Young People’s stories on the ‘Stories’ page on our website https://startingpoint.org.uk/stories/ to hear directly from the young people of their experience of mentoring.

There is no fixed time limit to mentoring and we strive to never have a waiting list - this so that a young person in need of mentoring can access the support straight away. Feel free to get to in touch through the details below to find out more information on any of the above mentoring programmes.

Who to contact

Contact Name: Darlyn Anaminyi
Contact Position: Mentoring Coordinator
Telephone: 01189 567 000 (6 for starting point part of Mustard Tree) or 07825331262
E-mail: darlyn.anaminyi@themustardtree.org
Website: Starting Point
Parent Organisation: The Mustard Tree - Covid 19 response

Where to go

Name: The Mustard Tree Foundation
Address: 90
London Street
Reading
Berkshire
Postcode: RG1 4SJ

Time / Date Details

When is it on: Office open Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm
Time of day: Morning
Afternoon
Session Information: Mentoring takes place at a time and location that will be agreed between the mentor and young person.

Other Details

Costs

Is there a charge for using this service?: No

Availability

Age Ranges

12-25

Referral required

Yes

Referral Details

Referral can be made via an agency or from an individual. Please contact Darlyn for more information.

Other notes

Work experience is offered in a number of areas for a duration that works for the young person and business. Mentoring also takes place at a time and location that will be agreed between the mentor and young person.

Ratings

Sign in to rate this service

This information has been collected from third party providers therefore the Reading Services Guide, Reading Borough Council (RBC) and Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of this information and recommends that parents, carers, young people, residents and professionals check with providers regarding DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) and OFSTED registrations and CQC registrations. Information collected by Reading Service Guide; is used solely to implement and supply the Family Information Service (FIS), Special Educational Needs & Disabilities - Reading's Local Offer, Adults & Carers Support Group and Reading Youth.

top