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Age requirements

18 and over, book freely. 16 to 18, we need consent first.

Age decides two things: whether you can book on your own, and which mentors you can be matched with. Nobody under 16 is mentored on mentorhero.

Check if you can book

Three age bands

Find your age, read the rule.

Under 16

Not eligible

  • We do not mentor anyone under 16, in any country
  • No exceptions are made through schools or parents
  • Schools can register interest for pupils turning 16

16 to 18

Consent and a DBS-checked mentor

  • Written consent from a parent or legal guardian, before the first session
  • A school, college or university must sponsor the young person
  • The mentor holds a current enhanced DBS check, or the local equivalent
  • A named adult at the organisation is the first point of contact throughout
  • Sessions stay on mentorhero, on the record, and are never one-to-one off platform

18 and over

Open, book directly

  • No consent form, no sponsor, no waiting
  • Book a free 30-minute session yourself
  • All the usual safeguarding rules still apply to every session

How 16 to 18 works

Four steps before a young person meets a mentor.

  1. 01The organisation puts the young person forward

    A school, college or university confirms in writing that the young person is theirs, gives us a named contact, and agrees the programme with us.

  2. 02A parent or guardian signs consent

    Consent is written, given before the first session, names what the sessions cover, and can be withdrawn at any time without giving a reason.

  3. 03We match a DBS-checked mentor

    Only mentors with a current enhanced DBS check, or the recognised equivalent in their country, are matched with a 16 to 18 year old. We verify the check before the match, not after.

  4. 04The session runs on the record

    Sessions run on mentorhero for 30 minutes, are logged, and the named adult at the organisation can raise a concern at any point.

For mentors

You need a DBS check only if you want to mentor under 18s.

Mentoring adults

No DBS check is required to mentor people aged 18 and over. You still confirm your identity and current role, and accept the code of conduct, before your first session.

Mentoring 16 to 18 year olds

You need a current enhanced DBS check, or the recognised equivalent where you live, and we verify it before you are matched. Without it, you will only ever be matched with adults.

Become a mentorRead our safeguarding rules

Common questions

Can a 17 year old book a session on their own?

No. Consent from a parent or guardian and a sponsoring school, college or university has to be in place first.

What counts as consent?

Written consent from a parent or legal guardian, given before the first session and held on record. It can be withdrawn at any time.

What if a mentor's DBS check is out of date?

They are not matched with anyone under 18 until a current check is in place. There is no interim arrangement.

We are outside the UK. Does DBS still apply?

We accept the recognised equivalent background check for your country, agreed with the sponsoring organisation before any match is made.

Do 18 plus mentees need anything?

No. Book a free 30-minute session directly. All the usual safeguarding rules apply to every session, whatever your age.

Not sure which band someone falls into? Ask us before you book.

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