Mentoring Sessions

Mentoring at Think Fred CIC

At Think Fred CIC, we believe that meaningful, consistent relationships are one of the most powerful tools for supporting young people to reach their potential. That's why mentoring sits at the heart of everything we do — delivered both one-to-one and in small groups, depending on what works best for each young person.

One-to-One Mentoring

Our one-to-one mentoring programme matches young people aged 8–18 with an experienced mentor who will work with them at their own pace, in their own way. Sessions are tailored to the individual — there is no fixed agenda, no tick-box approach. Instead, we focus on building trust, developing confidence, and helping each young person identify their own strengths and goals.

Mentoring sessions can support young people with:

• Building self-esteem and emotional resilience

• Setting and working towards personal goals

• Navigating challenges at home, school, or in the community

• Developing communication and problem-solving skills

• Making positive choices and moving away from risk

• Preparing for transitions — including leaving care, entering employment, or returning to education

Group Mentoring

Our group mentoring sessions bring young people together in a supportive, structured environment where they can learn from shared experiences, build positive relationships, and develop key life skills alongside their peers. We keep group sizes small and intentional, creating a space where open conversation is encouraged and no young person is left on the sidelines.

Group sessions can cover a range of themes, including:

• Identity, self-worth, and personal values

• Emotional regulation and managing difficult feelings

• Healthy relationships and communication

• Decision making, risk, and consequences

• Aspirations, ambitions, and future planning

• Community belonging and social responsibility

Group mentoring offers something that one-to-one work alone cannot — the power of peer connection. Young people often find that hearing others share similar experiences reduces feelings of isolation, builds empathy, and encourages them to open up in ways they might not have felt able to before.

All mentoring at Think Fred CIC — whether one-to-one or group — is delivered by experienced practitioners using trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches, in a safe, non-judgmental space where every young person feels heard, valued, and supported.

All mentoring at Think Fred CIC is completely free of charge.

Little Pickers

Getting outside. Giving back. Growing together.

At Think Fred CIC, we know that sometimes the best conversations happen when you're not sitting face to face. The Pickers Project is our outdoor wellbeing walking programme — designed to get young people out of four walls, into green spaces, and contributing something positive to the communities they live in.

What Is The Pickers Project?

The Pickers Project brings small groups of young people together for regular wellbeing walks combined with community litter picking. Sessions take place in local parks, green spaces, and community areas across Woodley and Reading — getting young people active, connected to nature, and proud of where they come from.

There are no classrooms, no desks, and no pressure. Just fresh air, friendly faces, and a shared sense of purpose.

How It Helps Young People

The benefits of The Pickers Project go far beyond picking up litter. For many of the young people we work with, simply getting outside in a safe, supportive environment can make a significant difference to how they feel day to day.

Regular participation in The Pickers Project can help young people to:

• Improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing

• Reduce stress, anxiety, and low mood

• Build confidence and a positive sense of identity

• Develop teamwork, communication, and social skills

• Feel a sense of achievement and purpose

• Form trusted relationships with peers and supportive adults

• Reconnect with their local environment in a positive way

For young people who may find traditional, indoor support settings difficult to engage with, the relaxed and informal nature of The Pickers Project can open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

How It Helps the Community

The Pickers Project isn't just good for young people — it's good for everyone. Every session leaves local green spaces cleaner, safer, and more enjoyable for the whole community. But the impact runs deeper than that.

When young people are given the opportunity to contribute positively to their neighbourhood, perceptions change — both their own perception of themselves, and the community's perception of them. The Pickers Project helps to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and show that young people are not a problem to be managed, but an asset to be invested in.

Through The Pickers Project, young people become visible in their communities for all the right reasons — as contributors, caretakers, and positive role models for others.

The Pickers Project at Think Fred CIC is completely free to access.

Open Access Youth Club

Open-Access Youth Club ( Coming soon )

Think Fred CIC runs a free, open-access youth club for young people aged 8–18 in the South Reading area. just a safe, welcoming space where young people can turn up, be themselves, and have fun.

Our youth club is built around the belief that every young person deserves somewhere positive to go, something meaningful to do, and someone who genuinely cares. In a time when youth provision across the country is increasingly stretched, we are committed to keeping our doors open and our sessions free for every young person who walks through them.

At Think Fred's youth club, young people can expect:

• A safe, supervised, and inclusive environment

• Activities, games, and creative sessions

• Opportunities to socialise and build positive friendships

• Informal support from trusted Adults , experienced youth workers

• A space free from judgement where they are welcomed as they are

Our open-access model means that young people who may not meet the threshold for statutory services — but who would still benefit enormously from consistent, positive adult relationships and a structured safe space — can access support without any barriers.

Whether a young person comes every week or just drops in when they need somewhere to go, they will always be welcomed at Think Fred.

Our youth club is completely free and open to all — no referral required