Introducing Mike…. Mentoring Gateway Coordinator
Hi Mike! Thanks for joining me for this interview, to start us off, what is it that you do at The Door?
I am the Mentoring Gateway Coordinator, which means I handle all the remote support services for young people. I look after incoming and outgoing calls, webchat and video calls. As well as supporting the team leaders too.
I see, so what does a typical week in the life of Mike look like?
Well to start with my phone is always buzzing. Young people checking in over text or WhatsApp, booking in calls and answering The Door Line. Mornings are quiet as most of our remote work happens in the evenings between 5 and 7pm. That’s when the webchat is open and during that time I work with our amazing volunteers to make our support calls to young people.
How often do you call the young people you support?
We call each young person for about 20 minutes once a week. They can always call The Door line in between if they need to.
It’s brilliant that young people can access support so easily.
It is. Having been a mentee myself, I know what the support of The Door can do to turn a life around, and removing barriers to that support is even better.
So you have been connected to The Door for a while then…
Yes, Gateway is my role at the moment but I’ve been part of The Door for much longer; first as a mentee then as a volunteer mentor.
I really enjoy mentoring, I still have 3 mentees that I support each week as a volunteer! And it may sound cliché but talking to young people, hearing their stories and being able to give them that space to be heard is my favourite part of the job.
Amazing, so if that’s the best part, what is more challenging about your role?
Other than having to do all the paperwork! The biggest challenge is managing all the different mentoring relationships, making sure that everyone has what they need when they need it.
Sounds complicated!
It can be, sometimes, but it’s worth it
Looking to the future, what are you most excited about?
Personally, I’m excited about completing my Psychology and Counselling Degree – I really enjoy learning about how the brain works and body language but the statistics are less fun so I’m looking forward to that part being over soon.
At work, I’m pleased to be working on a project with local GP surgeries, delivering telephone mentoring directly to their patients through Social Prescribers. We want to help cut Mental Health waiting times and offer more early intervention to young people in need.
Those both sound great. Now onto the fun stuff.
Firstly – if you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?
Chow Mein definitely.
Chicken?
No beef! I could eat Chinese every day of the week and I wouldn’t regret it.
Rather you than me! Now this is where I usually ask about sports teams
Hmmm, does Eurovision count?
I’ll leave that up to the readers to decide.
Very wise
And finally, is there a quote you would like to share?
“Failure is not the opposite of success; failure is part of success”
Thanks, Mike
Thank you!