Wigan Council is looking for guiding lights to give young people some direction in life.
The council’s prevention and youth offending team needs adult volunteers to act as mentors to people aged 8-17 who are 'at risk of offending' or who are already within the criminal justice system. Volunteers who have the life-skills and experience to act as mentors will spend an hour or two each week with a young person, using the activity sessions to address whatever issues might be causing concern.
Mentors can feedback to the scheme’s co-ordinators and share their experiences with each other at special monthly meetings. They can also gain nationally recognised qualifications by taking part in the training, mentoring a young person and completing a portfolio.
Project co-ordinator Andrew Brookfield says:
"Mentoring is a challenge, but it can be fun and very rewarding. For the right people it’s an opportunity to meet new people, try new activities, make a real difference to society and improve your own career prospects.
"It’s also one of the most effective ways we have of helping young people. We are looking for people from a cross section of the community - people who understand young people and are able to gain their trust, have good interpersonal skills and be experienced and mature enough to give the right sort of advice.
"Initial training involves elements of child protection, equal opportunities and adolescent behaviour. There is also further training available in areas such as drug awareness and sexual health."
The council is also seeking volunteer members for its referral order panels. Panel members - two volunteers and a youth offending team worker – meet with young people who have been given referral orders by the courts. The young person’s parent or guardian will also attend and possibly the victim of the young person’s offence.
During these meetings the volunteers and the other participants will agree a tailor-made contract of sessions and reparation designed to address the young person’s offending behaviour and put right the harm they have caused. After training, a panel member would be expected to spare between 3-6 hours a month sitting as a panel member at times arranged to suit them.
Initial mentor training beings on Saturday 7th October at John Tiernan House, Platt Bridge. Panel member training is due to start at the end of October at Haigh Hall. Interested people should contact Andrew Brookfield or Lorraine Bowie on 01942 487100 or 776886. Recruitment for volunteer is ongoing so enquiries can be made at any time. Both schemes require a period of training and a police records check.
Note to editors
For more information, please contact Andrew Brookfield or Lorraine Bowie, project co-ordinators, on 01942 487100 or 776886.
