We’re in our last few days of what’s been an incredible Volunteer Week.
As part of the nation-wide #volunteersweek campaign we’re delighted to showcase Young Glasgow Talent’s amazing volunteers.
One of today’s mentors under our spotlight is DonnaMarie Steel. Just like the rest of our mentors, DonnaMarie is full of motivation to help her young person achieve everything they can.
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: DonnaMarie Steel
Mentoring School: St Rochs Secondary School
Length of Time Mentoring: 1 year
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
Following a presentation at my work by YGT’s Donna Cunningham, looking to recruit new mentors, I was keen to find out more. I could see how passionate Donna was about the programme. I felt I could share the same passion if I got involved, through my experience at school and also having come from a ‘Looked After at home’ background.
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
Our first meeting went very well. We are both bubbly, chatty characters so there was a lovely comfortable atmosphere between both myself and my young person. This continues at every meeting.
Q3: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
I have noticed a difference in my young person’s confidence in her academic ability. She seemed to think she couldn’t do certain tasks, for example, solo talks, but when we planned for it at one of our meetings and prepared the presentation she was excited to present her work to her class. She also seems more mature now
Q4: With your support and with your young person’s motivation, commitment and resilience, what stage has your mentee now reached in their journey?
My young person is about to go into 4th year this August. At the moment I think the route she would like to pursue would be a beauty course at college.
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?
I love my mentor meetings – I think it’s such a rewarding experience. I really enjoy seeing my mentee grow and develop at each meeting.
Q6: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
I really enjoy the relationship we have built. We can have good banter, but can also be serious when needed. Even though we are both very chatty, it has been more recently through a colouring-in activity that my mentee has opened up more to me.
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?
Definitely get involved! It’s an absolutely fantastic programme to be involved in – the support you receive from the YGT team is excellent and the feeling that you are giving something back and supporting someone on their journey is wonderful.
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.
