When children grow up in disadvantaged homes, they come to believe that the unacceptable is the norm. Like dad rarely turning up for his weekly visits; or eating cereal for dinner because there’s no other food; and having to look after your younger siblings because mum’s not coping. Sometimes, however, the lucky ones meet a mentor who can help them see their world in a different way. The latest Wesley Report, Give kids a chance: Seeing a better future with mentoring, highlights the importance of a mentor figure in every young life.

This report looks at teenage development and focuses on the role that adults play as mentors. As part of the research for this report, researchers spoke to both mentors and mentees on the importance of mentoring in their lives and how overwhelmingly brighter the future looks for a young person who can say that they have someone who is their mentor.