Could you become a Mendip Mentor?

LOOKING to make a difference in the community? The local charity PROMISEworks is asking the public to mentor a young person this year. 

PROMISEworks volunteers support vulnerable children and young people across Somerset, helping a young person to build the resilience needed to move forward and achieve their full potential – this could involve staying in school, keeping out of trouble, or getting to university. 

John Chambers, PROMISEworks case-holder for Mendip said, “There are 21 young people aged between 7 and 25 already receiving long term mentoring from our local volunteers, but I have still 46 awaiting help, and every week I receive more referrals.  Each youngster has a different reason to be on the waiting list, but all have one thing in common, they are asking for our support.  

“The young people have a range of different interests; for one it is baking, playing games and puzzles, for another it’s Manga and K pop, and for a third ICT and science.  They are each looking for a supportive adult in their life whom they can trust and spend time with to improve their wellbeing.  In this simple way you can make a positive impact on the life of a young person in your local community, and it only takes a couple of hours a week.” 

PROMISEworks recruits, trains and supports volunteers, to provide one-to-one mentoring to improve the mental health and well-being of some of Somerset’s most vulnerable young people, aged from 5 to 25. 

As the dad of one young person said, “I can see a difference in him since he has had a mentor.  She’s brilliant”.  

Another’s mum said, “my son smiles on a Wednesday because he knows he is seeing his mentor; he runs down the stairs when he arrives”.  

With 250 young people in Somerset awaiting a mentor, the charity needs many more generous hearted people to step forward to train with PROMISEworks and commit to helping one young person in the local community. 

John and his colleagues provide training and continuous support to volunteer mentors throughout the time they are part of the PROMISEworks family. 

Volunteers come from all backgrounds and walks of life as well as all ages. 

To find out more contact John at john.chambers@ promiseworks.org.uk  or go to www.promiseworks.org. uk/volunteer/ 

Picture: John Chambers the PROMISEworks case-holder for Mendip