Can you recommend any volunteer matching software or database packages available off-the-shelf?
Les [...]
New Mentors can help stop kids going off the rails
09 March 2010
A new project to stop vulnerable and troubled children from going off the rails is about to start in Kirkcaldy.
Plus One Mentoring will see specially trained adult volunteers working on a one-to-one basis with youngsters aged 8-12 years to get them involved in other interests to occupy their time – and get them back into community life.
The scheme will be run by a community worker from Kirkcaldy YMCA, working alongside Fife Police and Fife Council’s social work department to ensure that as much help and support as possible is given to the youngsters and their families.
Jill Robb, programme manager for Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth, explained: “Our aim is to develop a programme by recruiting and training a team of volunteer mentors who will work with children who have committed an offence or who are giving cause for concern.
“The mentors will spend time with the child, getting to know them and developing a trusting relationship to assist them in making positive life choices.
“They will be there to give them support and guidance and to help them develop their interests within the local community – whether it’s through sport, drama or a local youth club.”
Ten volunteer mentors have been recruited and undergone a training programme.
They will now work alongside the police and social workers.
The mentors in Kirkcaldy ones are all aged between 20 and 50, and have different backgrounds and reasons for getting involved.
They will be carefully matched up with youngsters before starting out on the programme which could last anything up to a year.
Youngsters will be referred through a multi-agency route involving police, social work, SACRO, the Safer Neighbourhoods Team and Integrated Community Schools.
“This is a new programme so it will be a learning curve for us all,” added Jill.
“We are all very enthusiastic and looking forward to it getting up and running over the next few weeks.”
Kellie Hannah, youth issues co-ordinator with Fife Constabulary, added: “Our Youth Offender Management Strategy has proved very successful, and this project complements it.
“It is basically about early intervention, so if there are concerns around care and welfare or antisocial behaviour, we can refer them to Plus One Mentoring for support.”
