Our vision / The future we work towards
Every child recognised for who they can become.
A future where children have access to mentoring that recognises their strengths, nurtures their aspirations and helps them take their next step.
Every Child Needs a Mentor® / Our purpose
Every child.
Extraordinary
potential.
We want every child to feel known, valued and understood.
Over the years, we’ve grown in how we listen and how we care. We make room for what a child has been through and what a family or professional has been carrying. That’s how we begin to help a young person reconnect with their strengths, their relationships and what feels possible.
Talk to ECNM about support Discover the purpose Watch Herman’s presentation
Hear from our founder
Herman Stewart on the work behind ECNM.
Hear founder Herman Stewart explain ECNM’s Asset-Based Mentoring approach—starting with people’s strengths, interests and aspirations. Discover how trusted relationships can help children and young people build confidence, reconnect with support and take meaningful steps forward.
Watch the full presentation · 17 minutes 5 seconds
The conviction that started ECNM
When progress seems impossible.
We find a way forward.
Access to mentoring should not depend on a child reaching crisis point.
ECNM was founded to widen access to mentoring, including for young people whose needs fell below the thresholds for support. Their strengths, ambitions and need for guidance deserved attention too.
Today, our specialism is engagement where engagement has been difficult to achieve. A young person refusing support. A family losing confidence. A school or service looking for a connection that can move the work forward.
We begin with the person: their interests, their voice and the future they want. We give the relationship a purpose, agree practical goals and work with the people around them.
The ECNM story / 2008–2026
From a consultancy.
To ECNM today.
Five defining moments. A growing history of mentoring, programmes and partnerships.
Herman Stewart Consultancy begins
Herman starts the consultancy that would become ECNM.
The book takes shape
Herman writes and publishes Every Child Needs a Mentor, putting the belief behind his work into words.
Every Child Needs a Mentor Limited
Herman Stewart Consultancy becomes Every Child Needs a Mentor Limited.
Donna joins as COO
Donna Stewart joins as Chief Operating Officer, bringing dedicated leadership to the way ECNM operates and grows.
- Today
ECNM today
We work with children, families, schools and services, using mentoring to build engagement where it has been hard to achieve.
Explore the milestones
Select a period to read the full story.
2008–2013Building the foundations
- Ofsted noted the high quality of the mentoring provision.
- Birmingham City Council commissioned Herman Stewart to lead his mentoring programme citywide.
- Won the Leading Aspect Award for improving student morale, wellbeing, performance and attainment.
- The founder’s mentoring recommendations were included in a White Paper on social inclusion in Birmingham.
- Every Child Needs a Mentor was published.
- The ECNM vision appeared in the conference edition of Politics First.
2014–2016Reaching more communities
- The ECNM programme launched in Lancashire.
- The ECNM programme launched in Birmingham.
- ECNM delivered services in Dubai.
- Representatives from the Department for Education described ECNM’s work as inspiring.
- ECNM launched programmes in Cheshire and Leicester.
- ECNM established its headquarters in Sandwell.
2017–2018New ways to deliver
- Launched the ECNM Summer Mentoring Programme.
- Launched the online mentoring platform on National Mentoring Day, 27 October.
- Partnered with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council to help reduce exclusions, improve behaviour and raise pupils’ aspirations across the borough.
- Worked with West Midlands Police to support young people.
2019Growing through partnerships
- Launched the Why School Programme.
- Worked with the National Careers Service on recruitment.
- Developed a partnership with the Aleto Foundation.
- Extended accreditation for ECNM’s mentor training.
- Established a partnership with Go Train.
- Developed a partnership with Birmingham City University.
- Became a strategic partner to the Positive Transformation Initiative.
2020–2022New ways to reach young people
- Launched the digital mentoring programme.
- Founder and CEO Herman Stewart won Mentor of the Year.
- Launched Success School.
- Herman Stewart won Mentor of the Year for a second time.
2023New commissioned work
- Began work on the Department for Education’s SAFE programme.
- Delivered work on the Ministry of Justice’s Turnaround programme.
- Commissioned to work on the Grenfell Legacy programme.
2025Supporting care-experienced young people
- Worked on NHS England’s programme supporting care-experienced young people.
2026Work underway
- Working on the Department for Education’s SAFE 2.0 programme.
- Commissioned by Walsall Council.
- Commissioned by Dudley Council.
Our vision and mission
Our vision & mission
Potential seen.
Possibility pursued.
Our mission / The work we commit to
Build engagement.
Make progress possible.
To engage children and young people through Asset-Based Mentoring, working with families and professionals to turn strengths and aspirations into practical goals, shared action and progress that can be reviewed.
Our values in practice
Our values / The commitments behind the work
What we stand for.
How we show it.
Our values matter in the choices we make with children, families and the professionals who place their trust in us.
See the strengths.
Recognise interests, abilities and aspirations. A difficulty is part of a child’s experience; it does not define their potential.
Listen with respect.
Take the young person’s voice seriously. Build goals with them and treat children and families with dignity.
Find a way forward.
Stay curious when engagement is difficult. Adapt the approach and make the next step purposeful and achievable.
Work together.
Connect the relationship with the people around the child, with agreed responsibilities and a shared understanding of progress.
Be accountable.
Plan responsibly, uphold safeguarding and record what changes. Be clear about what the evidence shows and what still needs to be understood.
Believe the best.
See possibility in every child. Meet them with care, high expectations and a belief in who they can become.
ECNM at a glance
Purpose.
Put into practice.
Our focus. The people we support. How to take the next step.
- What we do
- Specialist one-to-one mentoring that builds engagement, confidence and purposeful steps forward.
- Who we work with
- Children, young people and families; schools and trusts; local authorities, CME, Fair Access and children’s social care. Parents can approach ECNM directly.
- How we work
- Start with strengths. Listen to the young person. Agree practical goals, connect the adults around them and review progress together.
- When to involve us
- During a transition, before difficulties escalate, or when engagement has stalled. We review suitability, capacity and timing with you.
The leadership behind ECNM
Conviction in the work.
Responsibility for delivery.
Experience gives the service its foundation. Operational leadership gives it the structure and capacity to deliver.
Founder & Chief Executive
Herman Stewart
Helping young people be seen and heard.
Herman founded ECNM and developed its Asset-Based Mentoring approach. He brings close to 25 years of engaging children and families whom services have struggled to reach.
His experience includes work across Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and Birmingham, including the Department for Education’s SAFE project. Former mentees also describe the influence of relationships begun decades earlier.
Discover Herman’s story and workChief Operating Officer
Donna Stewart
Making sure care carries through into delivery.
Donna leads ECNM’s operations, practitioner recruitment, systems and strategic growth. Her remit connects the organisation’s ambition with the people, processes and capacity needed to deliver.
She oversees the operational development of the service as ECNM grows, with clear responsibilities and systems behind the work.
Explore delivery and safeguardingThe standard behind the relationship
Suitability reviewed. Delivery agreed. Responsibilities clear. Progress recorded.
How our work is planned and overseenWhen progress seems impossible
Let’s find a way forward.
Tell us about the child, family or programme you want to support.