Could you mentor young people in Oxfordshire?

VOLUNTEERS are being sought by Oxfordshire County Council’s Youth Mentoring Service to help troubled young people turn their lives around.

The service recruits, trains and supports people from the community to become mentors to young people who have problems in their lives.

These may include:

Family issues
Educational or employment difficulties
Facing negative peer influence
Committing crime or being at risk of committing crime

The mentoring has many aims, including raising young people’s self-esteem, integrating young people with the wider community and preventing and reducing offending.

Mentors from a range of backgrounds

People must be at least 18 years old to become a volunteer mentor. Current volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures and bring a range of qualities and skills to the young people who they assist.

All mentors are required to attend training, which covers four basic units:

Mentoring Skills
Youth in Society
Equal Opportunities
Interpersonal Skills and Young People at Risk

The training, for which travel costs are covered, takes place at Oxford’s County Hall.

Mentors are carefully matched with an appropriate young person once trained. Volunteers receive support, supervision and the opportunity to attend more training sessions if required.

Valuable experience for all

Councillor Louise Chapman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families, said: “Becoming a mentor can benefit a young person in so many positive ways by giving them a real sense of support and assistance early on in their lives.

“It can also be extremely rewarding for the mentors too. I hope that lots of people will come forward to offer a few hours a week to help young people in Oxfordshire.”

People interested in becoming a mentor can call 01865 848181 or email [email protected] for more information.