Mentors

Connecting Champions is a national mentoring programme supporting young people in Ireland who have or have had cancer. Cancer can make it hard to stay connected with friends, school, and everyday life, leaving many young people feeling isolated and unsure about the future.

Connecting Champions pairs participants with mentors who share similar interests and passions, ranging from sport and art to music and fashion. Through online mentoring, young people gain confidence, practical life skills and a trusted connection, helping them navigate the challenges of life during and after cancer.

What does a connection look like?

Each connection is shaped around the young person. This might include:

  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand Informal conversations about shared interests
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand Talking about journeys, challenges, and successes
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand Creative encouragement or advice
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand A positive space away from medical appointments and routines
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand It may include insights into a career path
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand A member of Childhood Cancer Ireland staff will always be on the call too
  • The aim is not formal coaching or therapy, but meaningful human connection.

You can support a young person by sharing what you love and what you’ve learned along the way. If you’re passionate about encouraging others and want to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Steps to becoming a mentor

Mentors are people who:

  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand You express interest
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand We schedule a video call with you to outline the programme and give you a chance to ask questions and to assess if you are a good fit for the programme.
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand We will help you complete the enrolment process, which includes safeguarding training, garda vetting and induction to relevant Childhood Cancer Ireland’s policies and procedures.
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand Once we have a young person matched with you, we will meet again to discuss their interests and what they would like to talk about.
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand We facilitate an online introduction between you and young person
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand We will connect with you again after the meeting so that you feel supported.
  • Logic-Approved-Functional-Check-1--Streamline-Freehand You and the young person can decide to meet once or over a few meetings.

FAQs for Mentors

What makes a good mentor?

A good mentor should be excited to share what they’re passionate about. They should be able to commit to at least six months. They should be a good listener, reliable and understanding.

All mentor relationships start out as virtual, but we do have protocol in place for in-person meetings.

We do our best to set everyone up for success, including but not limited to matching mentors and participants based on personality, not just interests. You’ll also never be alone on the call – someone from Childhood Cancer Ireland will always be on the call to help facilitate relationship building. We’re available before and after calls for reflection and planning, too.

Mentor visits vary depending on the participant, their interests, age, etc. However, you can expect to share in their passions and interests, listen, play games or do other activities. We often order and post supplies related to the child or young person’s field of interest so they and their mentor can learn or simply connect over videocall.

We will manage all logistics, communication and scheduling. We also provide real-time support, including pre- or post-meeting planning, as well as being present on all calls.

We ask our mentors for a minimum of two hours per month for six months. For some young people it may be a once-off meeting.

Definitely!