'On Your Side' Mentors for Young People (aged 16-24)

Workingrite
VO94836

WorkingRite is an employability charity for young people (16-24) with mentoring at its heart.

‘On Your Side’ Mentoring is a new development for our charity. It will extend our ability to provide mentoring support for our young people in the years following their successful progression from our core work-based programme.

Our young people have worked hard to get to this stage. Could you make a real difference by being there for them and providing ongoing support as they transition from a work placement into employment and beyond?

What will volunteers do in this role?

The role of the mentor is to take a person-centred approach which supports the mentee to build resilience by exploring and identifying their own solutions to the issues and challenges they face.

You will provide support, encouragement, and a listening ear for your mentees as they move through the stages of young adulthood with the inevitable challenges that can entail. Conversations could be around work, family/relationships, managing money, moving or maintaining accommodation, mental & physical health, and their goals, hopes, and aspirations. Are you prepared to share your personal experience to provide insights and explore a variety of mentee ideas?

Volunteers will also:

•Promote the well-being of your mentee and know when to report concerns.
•Maintain compliance requirements, particularly for confidentiality, and data protection.
•Reflect on your practice and seek opportunities to develop your skills.
•Be expected to adopt a culturally sensitive, impartial, and non-judgmental approach that promotes diversity and inclusion.

Time Commitment

We anticipate that mentors will volunteer at least twice a month for approximately one hour. You will be matched with a young person with similar interests and will meet with them regularly for an agreed period. We would like mentors to commit to this young person for up to a year. Your meetings could be face-to-face online or a combination of both.

What skills or experience do you need?

No previous experience of mentoring is needed as full training and ongoing support will be provided.

If you are a good listener and can commit to building a relationship with a young person and acting as a positive, consistent role model we’d love to hear from you.

What can you expect in return?

•The opportunity to be there and build a supportive, positive relationship with a young person
•Full training will be provided including an online course ‘Mentor Knowledge & Understanding’ which has been developed and certificated by the Scottish Mentoring Network, of which we are members
• Out-of-pocket expenses including travel costs plus we’ll pay for your PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme Membership
•Ongoing support and regular contact with the OYS Programme Manager
•Ongoing opportunities for development and invitations to social events with your peers

Please note this is a pilot (funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation) and by taking part you will be part of developing a brand-new programme. This means your feedback on all aspects of the pilot will be really important. This includes recruitment, training, and matching as well as the ongoing support you receive. Your input will help us design a model that works, and that we can then grow to support a greater number of young people.

Experience required

What skills or experience do you need?

No previous experience of mentoring is needed as full training and ongoing support will be provided.

If you are a good listener and can commit to building a relationship with a young person and acting as a positive, consistent role model we’d love to hear from you.

Travel details

Mentor meetings could be held in various public locations in the North West and South of Glasgow. This will be agreed between yourself and the young person. So far, matches have chosen cafes and local libraries.

Travel expenses

You will be reimbursed for your travel to and from your mentor meeting. We pay £0.45 per mile if driving. Receipts for public transport should be retained and submitted along with your expense form.

I want to volunteer