Can you be a force for good in a Wiltshire child's life?
Wiltshire Council's calling for more Adult Mentors
There's a call for volunteers in Wiltshire to support the county's children and young people as mentors.
Wiltshire Council is hoping to recruit more people who can be a force for good in the lives of young people and provide a reassuring presence to them.
Children and young people who've benefitted from the guidance have shared their thoughts on having an adult mentor.
They said: “It’s someone to speak to outside the home,", “Mentoring helped me have time to tell someone how I been doing," and "It gives me a nice couple of minutes to wind down.”
The council says various roles are available and will provide training and support for the position, adding that mentors must be over 18 and require key skills such as empathy, patience, be non-judgemental and supportive.
The different types of mentoring opportunities include:
• Weekly one to one support to primary school aged children
• Weekly one to one support for children moving from primary to secondary school
• Weekly or fortnightly support for young people involved in the youth justice service
• Fortnightly/monthly support in the community for young people leaving care, helping them step into adulthood and achieve their goals.
One mentor said: “I enjoy seeing the children thrive and develop over time, seeing their independence and confidence increase puts a smile on my face.”
Another mentor added: “I rate the support and match nine out of 10. I am more confident with these children after my first year of volunteering. I enjoy it and it’s great fun, the children like having a role model.”
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said: “Our mentors have such a positive impact on children and young people who may be struggling or finding life difficult for many reasons. They are that listening ear, that gentle support and reassuring presence that can help them thrive and have confidence. We value the dedication and commitment of our mentors, and we provide that ongoing support and training so you’re not alone in doing something which can make such a difference.”
More information about mentoring can be found here.