Job Detail
Job Description
Volunteer Mentor Role Description
We are looking for volunteer mentors specifically for our two projects based in secondary schools in Edinburgh. Castlebrae Community High School is based in the Greendykes area of Edinburgh and St Thomas Aquins’ High School is near The Meadows. As a mentor, you would be matched to a S2/S3 (12-14 years) young person from one of the schools. This is an amazing opportunity to support and mentor a young person who has been identified by the school as benefitting from wrap around support and a volunteering placement.
Location
In the Greendykes area of Edinburgh or near The Meadows in Edinburgh. Depending upon which school location would suit the mentor better, mentoring sessions could take place in one of the schools or in a nearby public setting such as a café or library.
Time commitment
As a guide a 6 month commitment – 1 hour weekly although this will be flexible and may fluctuate to meet school timetables and mentor availability. Mentors will have to be available to meet with the pupil within school hours so a degree of flexibility and availability during the day is essential.
What Project Scotland do
Across Scotland we support people (primarily young people) to reach their potential through tailored support, mentoring and volunteering.
What mentors do
- Be a mentor to a S2/S3 (12-14 years) young person from Castlebrae Community High School or St Thomas Aquins’ High School who has been identified by project and teaching staff as an individual who would benefit from the experience of having mentor input and support
- Meet your mentee weekly during school hours, in the school building or within the local community, for a minimum of 1 hour
- Be an active listener and offer support and encouragement when appropriate.
- Acknowledging the young person’s strengths, talents and gifts and encouraging them to find ways to use them.
- Be a positive role model developing a healthy, trusting relationship through clear communication and appropriate boundary setting.
- Assist the young person to identify personal goals and aims and support them to work towards these in a planned and thought through way. E.g. building self-esteem, feeling more confident in social situations, expressing themselves effectively, recognising personal strengths, exploring future career/further education options.
- Follow Project Scotland Policies & Procedures as detailed in induction and training.
- Attend training sessions as required, submit monthly mentor logs and meet with dedicated staff member for support when necessary.
What’s in it for me
- Help transform the life of a young person.
- Enhance communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability.
- Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged young people.
- Participate in regular support and training.
- Meet new people and have fun!
- Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others.
- Give back to the community.
Skills and experience we are looking for
- Self-motivated, reliable and organised.
- Flexible, patient and resolute.
- Emphatic and understanding of the challenges a young person might face.
- A positive attitude.
- Supportive and encouraging approach that can help young people recognise and reach their potential.
- Ability to provide constructive helpful feedback.
- Ability to relate to young people, build rapport and trust.
- Active listening skills.
- Ability to inspire, empower and motivate.
- Previous mentoring experience or training would be outstanding but not a necessity.
- Youth work experience or training would be outstanding but not a necessity
Training and support we provide
- Get Ready to Mentor training workshop.
- Safeguarding Training.
- Support from a single point of contact.
- Ongoing support through webinars/mentoring resources and toolkit.
- A community of wonderful mentors across the country to connect with.
A PVG membership or update is required at no cost to volunteer mentor.
One hour of your week could be life changing for someone else!
Get in touch for more info- we would love to hear from you: mentoringps@volunteeringmatters.org.uk