4: Setting Objectives and Goals Available to Purchase

The set-up and funding of each coaching or mentoring programme will often determine which young people will be referred to and will attend the programme in the first place. Whilst this can mean that some goal setting may seem pre-determined, young people are very good at saying what their goals or aspirations might be, regardless of any programme criteria! For example, some programmes have a specific remit to match a young person to an adult working in an industry that the young person wants to enter. However, through the early stages of the relationship, other issues may emerge that the coach or mentor may need to explore first, so that the issue is resolved before the young person feels able to consider other goals. This chapter looks more closely at referral processes and how the coach or mentor then starts to work with the young person to identify some main overarching goals as well as some smaller, short and medium-term goals. We will consider various tools that might support these processes, as well as explore how support is given to young people when they become stuck or may want to change direction completely. Whilst some young people will respond well to the concept of goal setting, others may not want to look too far ahead into the future. We will also look at making value-led decisions, as it may be easier for some young people to explore rather than try to identify goals that they might not feel ready to set.