Let's Get Serious is a Department of Health funded project, operating in the Manchester, Salford and Trafford Health Action Zone.

Let's Get Serious is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, first registered in November 2000.

What are Let's Get Serious goals?

Let's Get Serious was set up to address the health inequalities experienced by men in the target area.

An example of a health inequality would be that men in Manchester, on average, can expect to die five years earlier than the national average, and eight years earlier than men in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

What is Let's Get Serious doing?

Let's Get Serious have recruited 26 individuals, all of whom were previously long-term unemployed.

These men then undertake a rigourous training program to turn them into mentors.

The mentors then work with boys and young men who might be experiencing difficulties at school or in the wider community.

Why is Let's Get Serious different?

Let's Get Serious is committed to releasing potential in individuals and communities. Let's Get Serious do this by:

Targeting long-term unemployed men

Employing full-time mentors

Focusing on men's health

Exploring and researching masculinty

Recognising strengths in individuals and communities

Focusing on innovation

Involving mentors in the governance of the company

Where do Let's Get Serious mentors work?

Let's Get Serious work in a variety of locations including primary and secondary schools, in community centres, with Youth Offending Teams, in Secure Units, with school inclusion projects and so on.

Let's Get Serious cannot accept referrals from individuals at the moment.

Can you give me some details of the training programme?

The mentors training centres around the Certificate in Mentoring Practice (GMOCN level 3), the innovative Men's Health Workout programme (GMOCN level2) and The Pacific Institute's STEPS programme (GMOCN level 2).

In addition, the mentors are involves in a variety of training in order to equip them with the skills and knowledge that they'll need as well as to further their personal development.

Are Let's Get Serious working with women?

At the moment, Let's Get Serious only has funding to work with men. We do think that our approach would work with females, but we don't have funding to develop such a project.

We have applied for funding, but so far, unfortunately we have been unsuccessful .

Does Let's Get Serious work only with Black and Ethnic Minority groups?

No. Let's Get Serious works with all members of the community regardless of creed or colour. Let's Get Serious mentors are drawn from all sections of the community and reflect the diversity of the society in which they live and work.

Are all Let's Get Serious mentors ex-offenders?

No. Some of our mentors are ex-offenders, but by no means all. We believe in giving people a second chance, by giving them an opportunity to use their negative experiences in a positive way.

How does mentoring work?

Let's Get Serious mentors use their skills, knowledge and life experience to encourage and empower boys and young men.

They address important issues by:

Establishing trust

Offering customised advice

Discussing options

Challenging beliefs and behaviour

Setting challenging goals

Motivating and inspiring

Encouraging initiative

What are the benefits of mentoring?

Research consistently shows that relationships with caring adults in addition to one's parents can help a young person grow up.

In a landmark study of 1,000 young people, mostly urban youth ages 10-14, researchers found that those engaged in mentoring were significantly more likely than those without mentors to have developed the attitudes and habits that can help ensure success. Compared to the other group, the children with mentors:

o Were 46 percent less likely to begin using illegal drugs

o Were 27 percent less likely to begin using alcohol

o Were 53 percent less likely to skip school

o Were 33 percent less likely to engage in school violence

o Had improved school attendance and performance, and better attitudes toward completing school work

o Had improved peer and family relationships

Source: Making a Difference: An Impact Study of Big Brothers Big Sisters, Public/Private Ventures 1995

What are people saying about Let's Get Serious?

Dan (Trainee mentor):
'My parents and friends are seeing a change in my attitude altogether. I feel like a different person. I feel better, more confident.'

Adam (Trainee mentor):
' I got expelled at the age of seven, though I was bright and had a lot of potential. Maybe if I'd had a mentor when I was a young man I would have progressed better.'

Comments from metees about our mentors:
'If you need to talk to someone about something, they're always there.'

'They're not like teachers... they're people that you can talk to.'

'Let's Get Serious mentors take a different approach'

'Let's Get Serious mentors get to the root of your problems... other mentors just told you what to do.'