Why Every Young Person Needs Someone in Their Corner

Niamh, a Psychology student from the University of Manchester, reflects on her placement year with City Year UK, volunteering as a mentor in an Alternative Provision setting. In this blog, she shares how the experience has reshaped her understanding of education, strengthened her resilience, and shown her the transformative impact of building trust with young people who need it most.

My name is Niamh, and I am currently a placement student at the University of Manchester studying Psychology. As part of my placement year, I am serving as a mentor in Trafford Alternative Education Provision. Even though I am only halfway through my City Year journey, I already know that I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

I was drawn to City Year UK because I believe every young person deserves someone firmly in their corner—someone who shows up consistently, compassionately, and wholeheartedly; someone who believes in them while they are still learning to believe in themselves.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, Alternative Provision is an educational setting designed for young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to access education in a mainstream school. Working in this environment has completely reshaped my understanding of education and the support systems that should be in place for all young people. It has taught me that these children are not “hard to reach”; rather, they have often been misunderstood, unheard, or have experienced trauma that many of us could not even begin to comprehend.

Being a mentor has given me the privilege of building meaningful relationships with these young people and seeing first-hand that trust must be earned slowly and protected with care.

My experience with City Year has supported both my personal and professional growth. Over the course of this year, my resilience has strengthened—I have learned to adapt quickly, remain positive, and continue showing up, even on the most challenging days. I have developed a deeper understanding of empathetic, trauma-informed practice and seen time and again that behaviour is a form of communication. Behind defiance, there may be fear; behind silence, anxiety; behind disengagement, shame. My role as a mentor has taught me to look beyond what is visible and respond to the needs beneath the surface.

Perhaps the most striking development, however, has been in how I see myself as a leader. City Year has given me the space to be confident, passionate, and driven—someone who empowers others and advocates for those whose voices often go unheard.

I’d like to share the story of one student on my focus list—let’s call her Amy—whose journey reflects what we at City Year describe as a “starfish story”: making a meaningful difference to one young person’s life. Amy was added to my focus list in January due to significant emotion-based school non-attendance. She had not attended her mainstream school for over a year, so initial support focused on building a strong, positive relationship with her parents through regular communication and strategy planning.

At first, Amy’s progress appeared small—emails exchanged or brief greetings through the car window—but for her, these were huge steps, and I made sure to move entirely at her pace. Then one day, she came in for a mentoring session, which marked a turning point. From there, I have ensured that mentoring remained a safe and predictable space for Amy, grounded in trust.

Now, Amy comes into school once a week specifically for our sessions. Having a mentor has become a bridge, enabling her to access school in a way that previously felt impossible. The feedback from her parents has been incredibly positive and serves as a powerful reminder of the impact our year of service can have.

My City Year journey has taught me that good leadership is rooted in integrity, compassion, and resilience. It is about creating environments where others feel safe to grow, and where understanding and inclusion are placed at the centre of every decision.

In ten years’ time, I may no longer be wearing the red jacket, but I know that what this jacket represents will live on in me.