Grandmentors Merton is an innovative, intergenerational mentoring project harnessing the energy, skills and experience of older volunteers to support young people leaving the care system.

Every year, approximately 10,000 sixteen to eighteen-year-olds leave foster or residential care in England. Far too many do not go on to higher education or employment. All too often, they don’t have the support they need to thrive. Grandmentors works to support care leavers in this transitional phase of leaving care.

Volunteers (usually aged 50+) meet regularly with a young person (16-24) to encourage ambition, support the young person to set goals and to act as a positive role model.

82% of the care leavers supported by Grandmentors are in education, employment or training after six months, compared to just 51% nationally.