This is the year you could make a genuine life-changing difference to a young person. Simply by offering a listening ear.
In December, YGT launched our #HelpingHands campaign. The aim is to inspire 1000 Glaswegians to support our city’s most deserving young people. The feedback was incredible. With even more young people asking Young Glasgow Talent for help, we need even more people in Glasgow to become a volunteer mentor.
Mentoring is a life-changing experience. For our young people, as well as for our mentors. So if you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution with a difference, or are ready to make an incredible commitment to our city:
“Believe me, watching the transformation unfold has been mind-blowingly brilliant – money just can’t buy that kind of reward. As someone who didn’t have the easiest childhood, it’s been important to me to lend a helping hand to other young people who might have had a bit of a tricky start to life. By offering that helping hand recently, I’ve been able to encourage a talented young person to have enough self belief to see a brighter future for herself – she’s now studying fine art at college and a whole new world’s opening up for her. As individuals, we can play such a huge part to make positive change in young lives. ” Mairi, Mentor.
Providing the listening ear that Mairi did to her young person will make THE difference. Every personality in the city will be required to build relationships and self-esteem, to help our young people discover their own passion for learning and achieving. Allowing them to overcome the challenges thrown at them. Challenges they face through no fault of their own.
This consistency is what keeps young people engaged with school. Working towards an exciting future you’ll encourage and help your young person discover. Mentoring radically improves educational attainment, return to school rates and positive pathways for our young people.
“It feels good to have mentor support and having someone to help me through. My mentor is a very fun and chatty person and this matches my personality, so we get along very well. It has made me more confident because she encourages me to do my absolute best”
Meet more amazing Glaswegians changing their lives today:
Our young people need 1000 more #HelpingHands. Having someone who can simply meet with them for one hour a week provides the consistency and support they need. You CAN make the difference!
Can your organisation help? As well as individual mentors, we need Glasgow businesses, large and small, to provide a helping hand to our young people. Can you join YGT Partners including The Herald, Wheatley Group, University of Strathclyde and more, to provide mentors and/or Talent Tasters? We can’t wait to work with you to offer our city’s most disadvantaged a gateway to an expanding menu of opportunities and tasters of employment, college and university. Get Involved.
Please continue to SHARE, SHARE SHARE our blog and social media posts. We also want to hear from YOU! Like the images below, we would love to see a picture of your helping hands! With a message that sums up why you support our city’s most deserving young people getting the help they desperately need.
