Young Person's Mentor - Inverclyde

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Are you a positive role model who could give support to a child or young person in Inverclyde? Do you have an enthusiastic approach and an ability to connect with children and young people on a 1-1 basis? We are looking for volunteer mentors to support vulnerable children and young people aged 8-14 years old, who are Looked After at Home.

Purpose and Aims of the role

intandem, Scotland’s mentoring programme for young people, brings together vulnerable young people with a mentor to build a consistent and trusting relationship, and improve their chances in life. The Scottish Government has appointed Inspiring Scotland to lead the development of the intandem programme.

what will i be doing?

Direct one-to-one mentoring with a child or young person within Inverclyde
Providing support for children/young people to access social opportunities and take part in fun activities within their local area
Working alongside a child or young person to set personal goals and motivate and encourage them to take part and make choices in their lives
Listening to a child/young person by valuing and respecting their feelings, views and opinions
Where required taking an active part in reviews and evaluations.

what skills can i bring to this role?

A knowledge of some of the issues affecting children and young people
Ability to encourage and motivate young people to participate in activities
Ability to work well with children and young people in a supportive way
Good listening, oral, & written communication skills
Ability to relate to children and young people and to be able to see things from their point of view
Experience of building confidence and self esteem
Good coping skills and the ability to deal with their own emotions.

what qualities do i need?

A non-judgemental, empathic approach to children/young people
Positivity and enthusiasm
Commitment and reliability with good time management
To be approachable, patient and understanding
To be honest and trustworthy
To have a commitment to treat all information in a confidential manner.

when will i be needed?

Days, evenings or weekends
Each visit lasts for approximately 2-4 hours
Visits will be weekly/fortnightly depending on the needs of the child/young person
Minimum commitment of 12 months is required
One hour every 6 weeks for supervision.

location

You will be mentoring children and young people in Inverclyde.

what will i gain from the role?

High quality mentor training
A sense of satisfaction in helping children and young people in challenging circumstances achieve their full potential
Practical experience of working with children and young people
Experience to get back into the workplace or education
This type of volunteering is not for everyone – it needs a real commitment of time and energy but offers real rewards in terms of making a positive difference in the life of a child/young person.

what support will i be given?

Full induction training
Child protection training
Role specific training for looked after children at home
Expenses – all out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed
Supervision and support from your volunteer coordinator
Attend recognition events and volunteer socials throughout the year.

Additional Information

Due to Health and Safety requirements you must be at least 18 years of age to undertake this volunteering role.

For all roles involving regulated work with children and/or protected adults, Aberlour will require the applicant to submit a PVG Scheme Record or a PVG Scheme Record Update application. This opportunity is subject to the completion of satisfactory references and successful registration on the PVG Scheme.