In 2024, over 11,800 young people in Scotland were experiencing the care system, with more on the edge of care or informal care arrangements. All young people need support to navigate life’s ups and downs and reach their full potential – but right now, the number of volunteer mentors available to support young people experiencing the care system simply doesn’t match the level of need.
Intandem, the only mentoring programme in Scotland dedicated to supporting children and young people experiencing the care system, or at risk of care, has just launched a new campaign to address this demand.
The programme matches mentors with children aged 7 to 15 years, who are looked after by their local authority at home or in kinship care. All of us struggle in rough waters, but with the right support these young people can thrive.
Through regular sessions with their volunteer mentor, Intandem supports these young people to improve their confidence, trust, and hope for the future.
One mentor said: “It is incredibly rewarding watching my mentee grow in confidence and achieve different goals. Mentoring has shown me how small acts of kindness, giving my time and being consistent can make a huge difference in someone else’s life.”
As we approach our 10th year, we are looking ahead to the future, and taking steps to ensure that Intandem can continue changing lives for years to come. That’s why we’ve launched a new volunteer recruitment campaign, designed to meet the growing need for mentors across Scotland.
Debbie Zima, Fund Manager at Intandem, said: “Working closely with our 12 partner charities, we know that many young people are missing out on support because there simply aren’t enough mentors. We want to change that, because we know just how transformative mentoring can be.”
This campaign has been shaped by the voices of Intandem young people, mentors and partners – bringing real stories and experiences into every part of the campaign, and highlighting the energy, warmth and connection at the heart of mentoring.
Mentoring with Intandem is a chance to make a real difference to a young person’s life. It’s also a chance to grow, and be part of something meaningful.
Could you help a young person feel seen, heard and supported?
Learn more about the mentoring process here.