Youth Support Buckinghamshire - My Future Self Matters

Helping young people become healthier, happier, and reach their full potential through specialist mentoring and counselling.

We understand how it feels when a young person is struggling. We help 8–18 year olds become healthier, happier, and reach their full potential.

Many young people face significant challenges in their lives. Research suggests that 1 in 5 young people experience or witness trauma or adversity. This can deeply affect how they see themselves and the world around them — leading to lower self-esteem, difficulties in relationships, and barriers to learning and wellbeing. Our mentoring and counselling services are trauma-informed and relationship-based — helping young people to feel safe, supported, and empowered to grow.

We are experts in engagement and building relationships with young people.

We have supported over 1,000 young people through specialist mentoring, counselling, and workshops. With many years of experience, we work with schools, academies, and individual families — helping young people to build resilience, develop confidence, and form positive, healthy relationships.

What We Offer

At My Future Self Matters®, we provide specialist mentoring and counselling for young people in schools, PRUs, and academies. Our services help build positive mental health, resilience, and self-esteem in young people.

Onsite Provision for Schools

Ideal for schools seeking to embed high-quality mentoring and counselling within their whole-school pastoral and SEMH offer.

One-to-one Youth Mentoring

Ideal for young people needing targeted mentoring support to build resilience, confidence, and positive life direction.

Mentoring Training

Mentoring has powerful benefits for the mentee, mentor, and the organisation. Our half or full day training packages support organisations by equipping their team members to become effective mentors. We explore the principles of mentoring, the differences between mentoring and other helping relationships and the communication skills and tools required to be an effective mentor.

One-to-one Youth Counselling

Ideal for young people needing specialist counselling support to explore their experiences, strengthen emotional wellbeing, and move forward positively.

Download Our Brochure

Explore our brochure, designed for schools, academies, parents, carers, and professionals.

Workshops for Young People

Mindset and Resilience Workshop

This workshop provides crucial early intervention that strengthens young people’s mindset, increases their resilience and equips them to handle the pressures of day-to-day life. We help young people to develop the skills they need to live happy, healthy and reach their full potential.

Substance Misuse Workshop

This workshop raises the awareness of substance misuse so that young people gain the knowledge to understand the potential dangers that drugs and other substances pose and are equipped to keep themselves safe.

Steps to support

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We talk about
what you need

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Support is put in place

Testimonials

Katrina Lemonius

The addition of this initiative into our school has been a game changer for so many students. They have trust in James and feels supported by an additional adult which is so important in their young lives. The team are great at catering to the individual and supporting our school culture. We really enjoy working with James and the team and are looking forward to another successful year.

Helen Priest

Claire was amazing with my daughter. From the 1st meeting she felt relaxed and comfortable. Over the weeks that Claire worked with my daughter we could see a significant improvement. I would highly recommend Claire and My Future Self Matters.

Emma Smith

My Future Self Matters were invited in to deliver sessions for our year 9 drop down day. They provided advice and support to our students on resilience and every student walked away with a plan which focussed on their future goals and aspirations. The feedback we received from the students was resoundingly positive and full of praise for the company. I have worked with My Future Self Matters for several years over different schools and they have provided invaluable mentoring to the students both individually and in group sessions

Sarah Merritt

My Future Self Matters have been wonderful with supporting some of our more vulnerable students. The rapport that is built with the young people is wonderful to see and they look forward to their sessions each week. I would definitely recommend My Future Self Matters to those looking for support for a young person as their work has been invaluable.

Jo Goodger

My Future Self Matters demonstrates exceptional expertise and empathy in effectively connecting with and supporting young individuals. With extensive experience serving some of our most vulnerable and challenging youth, they consistently achieve positive outcomes by enhancing the overall well-being and mental health of struggling young people. Both colleagues and the young people themselves have provided glowing feedback about their impactful work.

Caroline McCormack

Carl has been mentoring my son for quite some time now after being highly recommended by the SENDCO at his secondary school. My son has faced some tough life challenges already, from losing his Dad to cancer four years ago, struggling with behaviour & attendance at school and general low self confidence. My son refused counselling, but was up for giving Carl the chance to see what he could offer. Carl has been the best role model my son could have asked for. He tells me Carl is relatable, real, easy to talk to, a good listener who he now views as a friend. Carl gave my son strategies and the tools to view his experiences from a different viewpoint; what have I learnt from this? for instance. His mindset has changed over time & has become the most emotionally intelligent 15 year old I’ve ever known. I also work in my son’s school and all the students I talk to who are mentored by Carl, have nothing but positive words to say about him. He not only mentored my son, but also me! Carl has listened to my views & worries. He has helped me to find ways to support my son, whilst at the same time encouraged me to reflect on how I view situations, and how I can work on my own growth as a parent. The most amazing end to this story is that Carl has inspired my son to become a mentor like him and hopes that one day he can work for Carl. I couldn’t be more proud of my son and have Carl to thank for this!

Sofie Bjelobaba

Carl is honestly amazing, I can’t thank him enough for where I am today. The way he listens, provides advice and is always there for a call - I would recommend Carl to any young person needing support.

Cathy Watkins

I would fully recommend My Future Self 100%. Carl was empathetic, supportive and professional. He was able to connect with my son to provide the support he needed, and also provided support to me. He really made a difference to both of us at a difficult time. My Future Self offers a superb service and I would encourage anyone considering using them, to get in touch.

jenny folkard

The mentoring support Carl has provided to our students is supportive, motivational and empathic. I have seen huge benefits in many areas such as attendance, attitude, mood, motivation and behavior. he engages them using many different enablers such as sport, games, therapeutic and creative activities in sessions, enabling full engagement which they thoroughly enjoy.

Sharon Salerno

The one to one sessions and support has been excellent and so beneficial to our students. The support given shows a deep understanding of each individual and how to connect and provide the support they need.