Chances to help a teenager

From the archive, first published Friday 7th Oct 2005.

MENTORS from Swindon's business community are wanted to help young people make the right choices in life.

Wiltshire and Swindon Education Business Plus runs schemes across the county that link up adults to give help, support and encouragement to 16 to 19-year-olds.

Among the projects looking for mentors are Uplands further education centre for teenagers with learning difficulties and Swindon College.

People from the business world are often ideal for a mentoring role as they can bring career experience and help the teenager come to a decision about what they want to do with their life ­ and how best to go about it.

Mentoring co-ordinator Helena Robinson said: "It's not necessarily about qualifications or experience but we are looking for someone who is good at listening and who wants to make a difference and help people reach their full potential.

"Being involved in corporate industry or being self-employed can help, because that might give a different perspective for the young person than they see at home."

Mentoring is all about allowing the young person to come to their own decisions about what they want to do in life, rather than prescribing what they should do.

There are also plenty of advantages for companies whose staff want to be involved.

It is a way of putting something back into the community to fulfil obligations to corporate social responsibility, and all the mentors are trained in six accredited units.

As well as the skills learned, the adults have the chance to network with other people taking part.

Helena said: "Businesses can benefit from staff who feel valued if they allow their staff to work in the community."

Rhona Compton from Uplands School said: "I believe mentoring will enable my students to access work experience placements, giving them the opportunity to gain purposeful and meaningful employment, which at present is extremely limited for them."

Wiltshire and Swindon Education Business Plus is responsible for helping the education world and the business community talk to each other.

It is funded by the Learning and Skills Council.

The countywide scheme that Education Business Plus is looking after is partially funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund.

It aims to mentor 200 young people between now and the end of December next year.

At the moment there are 85 mentors on the books, which include second year students at New College who are training to be `peer mentors' to new arrivals at the college.

To find out more call Helena on 0845 456 8397.

Archive Home