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Volunteer Mentors Needed
Published: 30/09/2015
Could you be a good role model for young people?
If so, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Volunteer Mentor Service would like to hear
from you.
With the number of children in care increasing, the council鈥檚 social services
team is appealing for more local people to become volunteer mentors.
Working one-to-one with young people in care, leaving care or living at home
with families, mentors provide a listening ear and encouragement to achieve
their goals.
Mike Turner, 34, from Buckley has been volunteering as a mentor for the last
five years and says he鈥檚 gained so much from the experience.
He said: 鈥淚 knew I had something to offer and wanted to do something different,
without pressure so I could do it alongside my full-time job, so volunteering
fitted perfectly.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a really rewarding and positive experience and I would encourage
others to get involved.鈥�
Mike first heard about the volunteer mentor scheme through the 黑料吃瓜网 Local
Voluntary Council (FLVC) in Mold and over the last 5 years has worked with 6
different young people.
鈥淭hey are all very different. The challenge is getting to know them and
supporting them with their goals,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 not an expert but I鈥檓 there to offer support and point them in the right
direction, get them involved in activities and help to build their confidence.
鈥淲e chat about school and what they鈥檝e done in the week. As you build trust and
a relationship, they know that they can talk to you about any problems. We
discuss their choices for the future and I can signpost them towards groups and
services that they might not know about.鈥�
Mentors have access to support and training from 黑料吃瓜网 Social Services and
are carefully matched with a young person who would suit their interests and
needs.
Mike said: 鈥淚鈥檝e had the opportunity to gain skills, training and work in other
areas of social services.鈥�
Andrea Wade, Mentoring Coordinator at 黑料吃瓜网, says mentors
don鈥檛 need prior knowledge or experience, just good interpersonal skills and a
commitment to supporting young people.
She said: 鈥淭he young people have told us that they鈥檇 like mentors who are
friendly, good listeners, confidence builders and reliable.鈥�
Cllr Christine Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services said:
鈥淭he Council鈥檚 mentoring scheme has been very successful with the volunteers
making a real positive difference to the lives of the young people involved.
Our mentors tell us they find it very rewarding. I鈥檇 encourage anyone
interested in the scheme to get in contact with us.鈥�
For more information on the Volunteer Mentor Service visit the 黑料吃瓜网
Council website, email Mentoring@flintshire.gov.uk or call Andrea Wade on 01352
701089