Promoting Social Inclusion by Enabling Individuals and Developing Communities
Mentoring
Mentoring is a one to one relationship in which an individual mentor voluntarily gives time to support and encourage another person (the mentee).
The relationship develops at a time of transition in a person’s life and lasts for a significant and sustained period.
The mentor role is “walking alongside” someone, offering support
but not doing
everything for them. It is more than merely befriending.
The aim of the scheme is to assist people in the transition from custody
into the community in a way that they are able to lead as stable a lifestyle
as possible and reduce their incidence of re-offending.
Mentors
- Volunteers but not amateurs
- Aged 25+ years
- Willing to guide and support another person and assist them to remove any barriers to learning
- Committed to training, development and adherence to quality standards
- Ordinary people from the local community
- Not experts!
[ Full Person Description and Role ]
Commitment
- Training - 10 four hour sessions plus some assignments.
- Mentoring - 2-3 hours each week.
- Regular supervision
Training and Support
All mentors will receive accredited training in order to increase their confidence and to ensure that they operate effectively and understand that they are part of a larger, professionally run organisation within the CARD project.
Support will be maintained by the Mentoring Co-ordinator who will arrange
training, match clients with mentors, and provide supervision and ongoing
training.
The training course will usually be over 10 weeks, and provided in partnership with Exeter Council for Voluntary Service, Exeter College and Open College Network South West.
The Beneficiaries
The Mentor
- Training with accreditation
- Personal and career development
- Involvement in a worthwhile community project
The Mentee
- A trusting relationship
- A gateway to increase self esteem, personal development and remove barriers to learning
- An opportunity to break a cycle of crime and re-settle within the local community
