The questions parents ask first.
Three short sections covering safety, matching, and money. Jump to whichever one is on your mind.
Who you're letting through the door.
Every mentor is vetted before their first session and re-checked every twelve months.
What does the background check cover?
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Before a mentor can list a single session on Heirloom, our trust team works through this checklist with them. Nothing on it is optional.
- ✓Government photo ID + live selfie matchConfirms the person you meet is the person we vetted.
- ✓Multi-state & federal criminal history searchCovers every county they've lived in for the past 7 years.
- ✓National sex offender registry screeningCross-checked against all 50 U.S. states and territories.
- ✓Working-with-children clearanceState equivalent of a DBS / WWCC, including child abuse registry checks.
- ✓Two non-family referencesWe actually call them — usually a former employer and a community contact.
- ✓In-person interview with our trust teamA 30-minute video conversation about safety, boundaries, and teaching style.
Re-checks · Identity, criminal history, and registry checks are re-run automatically every 12 months. Any new charge between checks pauses a mentor's profile the same day.
Does a parent need to be present?
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Yes, always. A parent or guardian is present at every session, regardless of the child's age — this is not a drop-off service. Every session is also logged with start/end times and an in-app check-in, and mentors carry liability insurance through the platform.
Where do sessions take place?
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Wherever makes sense for the craft. Woodworking and pottery usually happen at the mentor's home studio. Baking and writing often happen at the family's kitchen table. Gardening can be either. Public-space options (libraries, community centers) are flagged on every profile for parents who prefer them.
Finding the right mentor for your kid.
Browse, meet on a free video call, then book your first paid session.
How are mentors and kids matched?
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Tell us the skill, your child's age, your neighborhood, and any preferences (quiet teacher, hands-on style, allergies in the kitchen). We surface a shortlist of vetted mentors near you. You read profiles, watch a 60-second intro video, then request a free 15-minute video meet-and-greet before booking your first paid session.
How long is a typical session?
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One hour is the minimum. Most parents book 90 minutes — long enough to actually finish a loaf of bread, a small carving, or a planting bed. Mentors and families can extend in-app at the same hourly rate.
What if the first match isn't right?
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Either side can end the relationship after any session, no penalty. Your first paid session is also covered by our fit guarantee — if it doesn't click, we refund it and help you re-match.
Honest rates, paid weekly.
See full tiers on the pricing page. The short version is here.
How does the hourly rate actually work?
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Mentors set their own rate within their tier (Apprentice $25–$35, Craftsperson $35–$50, Master $50–$75). You see the exact rate on every mentor profile before booking — no surprise fees, no tipping expected. Heirloom keeps 15% to run the platform; the mentor keeps 85%.
How do mentors get paid?
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Direct deposit, weekly. Payments release 24 hours after each session ends, giving parents a window to flag any issues. Mentors see lifetime earnings, upcoming payouts, and tax documents in their dashboard.
What's your cancellation policy?
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the session, both sides. Inside 24 hours, the mentor is paid 50% to protect their reserved time. Emergencies are reviewed by our trust team case-by-case.
We'll answer before you ever book.
Join the waitlist and you'll get a short welcome email — reply with anything on your mind and our trust team writes back within one business day.