Foróige looking for volunteer mentors in Mayo

Foróige is seeking volunteer mentors in Mayo to support young people through the Foróige Mentoring Programme. The programme brings together young people aged 8 to 18 with trained adult mentors from their local community. Mentors and young people are carefully matched based on shared interests and personalities, creating positive one-to-one relationships that develop through regular and consistent contact.

Mentoring is not about doing anything extraordinary. It is about showing up, listening, offering encouragement and spending time with a young person. This consistency can have a lasting impact on a young person’s confidence, outlook and sense of connection. It might be an hour after school, a walk, a chat, sharing a skill, kicking a football around or simply grabbing a hot chocolate. For a young person, that small amount of time each week can make a real difference.

Young people take part in mentoring for many different reasons. Some may benefit from extra encouragement, a trusted adult outside of home or school, or simply someone steady in their lives who is there just for them.

For volunteers, the commitment is simple but meaningful. Mentors give a small amount of time each week and receive full training and ongoing support from Foróige throughout the mentoring match.

Foróige Mentoring Mayo recently collaborated with Mayo Volunteer Centre on a six-part short documentary series celebrating the contribution of volunteers and community groups across the county.

The series was showcased at a special event in Ballina Arts Centre to mark National Volunteering Week 2026. This year’s theme, From Every Corner, For Every Cause, celebrated the many different volunteers and forms of volunteering that strengthen communities throughout Mayo.

The series was officially launched by Dara Calleary, Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The video featuring Foróige Mentoring Mayo, highlights the work of the programme and its volunteer mentors, demonstrating how giving a young person time, attention and encouragement can have a positive and lasting impact.

Mayo Volunteer Centre is supporting Foróige in recruiting mentors and encouraging more people across Mayo to consider giving their time to a young person.

Seán Kelly, Programme Officer with Foróige Mentoring, said: “Mentoring is about giving a young person your time, your attention and a bit of consistency each week. “You do not need to have any special qualifications. What matters most is being reliable, open and willing to build a positive relationship with a young person in your community. We are looking for people in Mayo who feel they could make that kind of commitment. It might be a walk, a chat, an activity, or just time spent together, but for a young person, that regular support can mean a lot.”

The video can be viewed on the Mayo Volunteer Centre's YouTube channel here.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer mentor in Mayo are asked to contact Seán Kelly by emailing sean.kelly@foroige.ie or phoning 086 383 5859.

Further information is available here and on Instagram @foroigementoringmayo.