Meet our amazing mentor, Marjory Smith.
As part of the nation-wide #volunteersweek campaign we’re delighted to showcase Young Glasgow Talent’s amazing volunteers.
Our fabulous mentors are making life-changing differences to Glasgow’s disadvantaged young people. Our city’s young people are disadvantaged through no fault of their own. Our mentors help them find, grow and use their talents.
We really can’t celebrate them enough! So this week we’re letting you get up close and personal with them. Find out what makes them tick and learn more becoming a part of our amazing community!
Full Name: Marjory Smith
Mentoring School: Smithycroft
Length of Time Mentoring: 1 year
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
First became interested when I read a feature on MCR mentoring programme in Glasgow City Council Magazine and felt that it was a really worthwhile initiative. I was aware that young people in the care system were much less likely to progress within and after school, because of circumstances rather than lack of ability. I had been a member of the Children’s Hearing System for ten years. I was very aware of the gap in support for young people who maybe just need a bit of extra encouragement
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
The first meeting with my young person went much better than I had expected. We have talked about this recently and it turns out we were both pretty nervous about it! I was worried that there would be gaps in the conversation, or that I would talk too much and try to offer solutions to everything! That wasn’t the case, she likes to talk and we got on pretty well.
Q3: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
She has developed in that I think, and she said this rather than me saying it, that her self esteem and confidence has increased. I think this is possibly down to a number of things but I think being involved with MCR Pathways Young Glasgow Talent programme has helped.
Q4: With your support and with your young person’s motivation, commitment and resilience, what stage has your mentee now reached in their journey?
She is about to start S4 and is starting to think about exams. We are also starting to look at options for work experience. She has a definite idea of what she would like to do after school but still has to work out how to get there.
Q5: How unique has this experience been for you? How rewarding has it been to see your mentee grow and develop under your invaluable support?
This has been a very rewarding experience for me and I look forward to my weekly meetings. I would like to do a bit more actually and am looking forward to going along to a Talent Taster session with some other young people at Glasgow’s Riverside Museum next week. It has been good to see my mentee becoming happier at school and although there are the usual moans and groans about it, she actually enjoys being there. She has a wider circle of friends than when I first met her and we agree that this is good for her.
Q6: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
I think the highlight has been seeing her be genuinely pleased to meet with me. She took me on a tour of the school a few months ago and introduced me to some of her teachers and that was very useful.
Q7: What would you say to someone that has been inspired by our amazing community and is looking to get involved in the YGT programme?
I would really, and already have, encouraged people to take part. I think the best part of volunteering in this programme is that we are encouraged to use our initiative and discuss ideas with our YGT Co-ordinator. The time commitment isn’t onerous and it feels like we are involved in something that really works!
More young people than ever before are signing up for the YGT programme. Can you support them by becoming a volunteer mentor? Just visit this link. You’ll be joining an amazing community! Full of like minded and committed people. Keep an eye on our website, Facebook , Linkedin and Twitter until 12th June to meet many more!
If you’d like to hear what our young people have to say first hand, watch our youtube video here:
Is there a friend or family member that you know would make a perfect mentor. Send them our way! We’re looking for new mentors to match with young people at our new schools. We have loads of new young people waiting. You or someone you know could be the perfect mentor for them! Visit our website and find out more today.
