intandem

Mentoring Scotland's young people

Intandem info

intandem-twitter

 

Mentoring Scotland’s young people

Uncategorised

Reflections from the European Mentoring Summit

By

Susie White represented the intandem team at the biennial European Mentoring Summit in March, joining with colleagues from Scottish Government, Scottish Mentoring Networks, Befriending Networks and YMCA and learn how research is informing practice across Europe and America.

There were four key note addresses, three interactive sessions (from a bewildering choice of 30) and one workshop (from a choice of 10).   Mentoring in Scotland was positively recognised as leading the way in good practice and encouraging a quality approach to programmess.  Jean Rhodes, a leading academic in the US mentoring landscape, emphasised that mentoring does not always work – programmes need to incorporate key elements to have an impact. Clara Peron stressed it’s never too late to begin measuring impact and the need for a plan to not only analyse but report and share a programme’s impact. Maurice Crul presented evidence of a programme’s impact on social and cognitive skills, particularly a mentee’s ability to know how to mobilise help.

Top  takeaways from the Summit: 

  • Volunteers: critical to make the best use of the scarce number of volunteer mentors – not everyone can be a mentor, some studies have shown that, for young people with signs of risk, committed volunteers with a background of helping are more likely to have a bigger impact.
  • Training: A high degree of training and a sense of self-efficacy reduce the risk of relationships ending early and in an unplanned way.
  • Clear goals: it’s not enough to have the relationship alone as the intervention, you need to be working on something to change the dynamics or behaviours. The relationship is the context for intervention and provides the space to help practice and master skills.
  • Realistic expectations: A relationship that does not live up to expectations can do more harm than good, making a young person less likely to reach out to an adult for help. Providing training for mentees and parents/guardians as well as mentors helps everyone have realistic expectations for the relationship. If programmes offer specialised training to mentors, they have longer and stronger matches.
  • Quality of relationships: the coordinator’s support and skill can improve the quality of relationships between matches. The quality of the relationship is most important factor in whether match will last and whether a mentor will stay on and encourage others.

Alastair Wilson, University of Strathclyde, Miranda McIntosh, Scottish Government, Iain Forbes, Scottish Mnetoring Network, Susie White, intandem.

Celebrating intandem’s mentoring anniversary – getting it right for young people across Scotland

By

On the anniversary of intandem’s first mentoring match, the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has acknowledged the important role of the mentoring programme in helping all young people have the best start in life.  In a special message she thanked the hundreds of volunteers who have signed up, been trained and are ready to be there for Scotland’s young people who are looked after at home, as well as the young people themselves for giving mentoring a chance.

 “We know that an uncertain home life means young people can often miss out on support, opportunities and even fun that other children enjoy. I’m determined to change that so all children across Scotland get the best start in life and that’s why programme like intandem are so important”

“intandem can help to get it right for more and more young people across Scotland.”   Nicola Sturgeon, The First Minster of Scotland

One year on since the first intandem mentoring match took place –  there are nearly 200 volunteer mentors from across Scotland ready and trained to mentor and be there for young people who are looked after at home.  75 mentoring matches are currently live with another 85 young people who have been referred are going through the matching process and selecting a mentor they would like to spend time with.

 “We are very proud of the important role intandem plays in supporting young people who experience challenge in their life because of their home circumstances.  We know that having the opportunity to build a positive trusting relationship can make a real difference to young people and that is what intandem is all about. 

“I am delighted to join the First Minster in thanking the hundreds of individuals across Scotland who have signed up to become volunteer mentors for intandem and are making a real difference to the lives of Scotland’s young people.”    Celia Tennant Chief Executive of Inspiring Scotland

What a difference a year makes!

By

200 Outstanding volunteers recruited to intandem

In November 2016 Inspiring Scotland selected 13 charities to work with in developing a new national mentoring programme entirely focused on changing the life chances of young people looked after at home.

Since then over 200 outstanding volunteers have been recruited to the intandem programme from across the country with a willingness and commitment to support young people through mentoring.

The programme has ensured each volunteer receives a full and tailored package of training, carefully developed so each volunteer has all the skills needed to successfully support all young people during times of challenge.

So far, 60 young people across the country have established mentoring relationships and are meeting up regularly to take part in activities they have chosen; ranging from a trip to the park, to experimenting with baking or trying ice skating. Most importantly these relationships help to provide stability and consistency and support young people to be active in their community.

We are excited to be entering our second year and look forward to building and sustaining many more positive relationships for Scotland’s young people.

Make a difference to young people’s lives and become an intandem mentor

By

Intandem projects across Scotland are looking for new volunteer mentors to grow Scotland’s national programme.  By volunteering you will be making a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people who are looked after by their local authority but living at home.

intandem  matches young people with trained volunteers to build a positive, trusting, supportive and secure relationship.  So far 140 volunteer mentors have been recruited and intandem is looking to recruit even more.

Mentors need to be good listeners and able to relate to the life experiences of young people and children intandem supports. Young people tell us  that commitment and reliability are very important and having a consistent and positive role-model who listens and takes an active interest can make a huge difference to a young person’s life.

Meet some of  intandem’s mentors:

 Georgina Armstrong is finishing her last year studying criminal justice:

 The training gave me the confidence I needed to do the volunteering. It’s great that the coordinator is always there for support. I got matched quite quickly and we have bonded really well.

Scott Ritchie who works in youth work, wanted  the chance to make any small difference in a young person’s life as he understood the importance of having someone to talk to at a young age.    

I loved the training as it was fun and informative.

Jade McLachlan works full time at SACRO  wanted to try something new and work with younger children.

I enjoyed all the training, we had such a good group it completely prepared me for being matched.  I am absolutely loving volunteering and I can’t believe how well my mentee has taken to the project… he is so excited when I pick him up which is amazing.

All  volunteers receive:

  • full induction
  • high quality relevant training
  • regular on-going support
  • expenses

We are recruiting mentors for the areas below.  If you think this might be for you, click on the links to find out more about the intandem project near you and how you can get involved:

intandem mentoring underway – 10 matches already

By

Our co-ordinators are doing a fantastic job recruiting volunteers from all walks of life to mentor children and young people as part of the intandem programme.  A number of mentors have now completed several weeks of supportive, interactive training and selection, and we are thrilled to have our first 10 mentors matched with young people, with several more matches imminent.

The intandem co-ordinators are meeting with young people and their families to identify the most appropriate mentor for them. Once the match is made and the young person is happy to move forward, the co-ordinators will support the mentors and young people to get to know each other.  After that, it’s over to the young people and the mentors to decide what they want they want to do every week – let the fun begin!

One of the 13 charities in who have successfully matched two young people with a mentor is Move On. Commenting on the matches Gaby Nolan, Operations Manager at Move on said:

“We are pleased that two intandem mentoring matches are now underway.  Both young people have specific needs in terms of what they need from their mentor match. As we had existing, suitable mentors available who had completed our additional intandem training, we were able to support these matches to get underway quite soon after the young people were referred to the programme; enabling the intandem mentoring relationship to begin”.

“The next wave of volunteer training will take place later this month for new intandem mentors which will mean we are able to start matching even more young people.”  

One of the intandem mentors who have been matched with young peoples said: “Mentoring was something I always interested in. If I can help a young person by passing on a little of what I have learnt throughout life, along with encouragement and support I believe it can be one of the most fulfilling things that I can do and a way of giving back to society.”