However they want to. Mentors know that engagement looks different for every young person. Camera-off is welcome, they can use messaging or chat. Many children start quietly, then gradually open up as they feel safe.

Uncommon can be funded in several ways, through routes related to education (including school funded alternative provision, EHCP & EOTAS budgets), routes related to benefits (including DLA, Carer’s allowance and Short breaks funding) or self-funding with affordable and flexible pricing. Please explore funding options here.

Mentors work on whatever matters most right now - from navigating friendships, to understanding emotions, to building confidence in their identity. Yes, interests like Minecraft or art can be a big part of it - but mentoring is about the whole child, not just what they like to do.

Mentors aren’t therapists. Instead of diagnosing or “fixing,” they offer lived experience, listening, and practical support. Sessions are interest-led, low-pressure, and affirming - like having a trusted older ND role model to walk alongside your child. The therapeutic aspect of the sessions comes through Uncommon’s approach – one-to-one, child-led, low demand sessions. Providing support through non-judgemental, enthusiastic, and positive role modelling to build understanding, confidence, self-esteem and belief in their own abilities is our top priority.

The answer is: it depends on your child. Some play and chat in Minecraft, some work on creative projects, others talk through what’s on their mind.

Sessions can look like:

• Parallel play while chatting naturally

• Exploring tools for handling big feelings

• Talking about friendships or school

• Building confidence through small wins

Every session is child-paced, interest-led, and flexible.

With Uncommon, your child is paired with the same neurodivergent mentor week after week. This consistency helps trust grow and creates a safe space where young people feel truly understood.

Most mentoring sessions are 60 minutes and take place once a week. This gives time for natural conversation, shared activities, and gentle endings. For gaming-based sessions, we always recommend 60 minutes — it’s hard to wrap up sooner! For talking or topic-based sessions, we can offer shorter options of 45 or 30 minutes if that suits your child better.

We recommend starting with at least six weeks, as it takes time for trust and comfort to grow. Many families stay with us for 6 months or longer, depending on goals. Some young people stay with their mentor for extended periods, either to support transitions or where mentoring becomes part of their education plan or home-based learning. When your child has reached their goals, sessions can gently taper off — or pause, with the option to return later.

If your child already knows a mentor from a club or course and wants to work with them, we’ll do our best to make it happen. If that mentor isn’t available, we’ll match your child with someone who best fits what matters most to you — whether that’s shared interests, personality, lived experience, or identity. Our goal is always the same: to pair your young person with a mentor who makes them feel seen, safe, and supported.

Yes. All Uncommon mentors are DBS-checked and recruited through Safer Recruitment practices — the same gold standard used in schools. Many have backgrounds in tutoring, youth work, teaching, or creative coaching. Each mentor completes Uncommon’s training to ensure they can provide safe, inclusive, and affirming support.

For everyone’s protection, mentoring sessions are recorded and securely stored. These recordings stay private and are used only if ever needed for safeguarding.