It’s Volunteer Week!
As part of the nation-wide #volunteersweek campaign we’re delighted to showcase Young Glasgow Talent’s amazing volunteers.
Today we’re meeting our dedicated mentor, Liz Robertson.
Our fabulous mentors are making life-changing differences to Glasgow’s 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: Liz Robertson
Mentoring School: Eastbank Academy
Length of Time Mentoring: 4 months
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
I heard about YGT mentoring through a colleague at Wheatley Group and attended a briefing in our Academy to get some more information. It’s fair to say that I was totally bowled over by the passionate work of YGT and just knew I had to get involved.
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
It actually went really well, we are both naturally chatty and were at ease with each other from the start.
Q3: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
I met my young person at a time when her school had already discussed options with her for moving onto higher education at college, but even in the few months I have mentored my young person, I have seen her grow in confidence and believing in herself and her talents.
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 was successful in applying for a college placement after the summer which is just fantastic! This is something I truly believe she will excel at for her chosen career pathway.
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 experience has been truly rewarding, I have learned from my young person who never fails to amaze me! It’s a two way deal for us.
Q6: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
Obviously the college placement is the ‘biggy’, but having the privilege to be a mentor for my young person has been my personal highlight.
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?
Do it! You can’t underestimate just how important it is for young people to have someone there for them, someone they can depend on, who listens. It’s an hour of your time, it will be the best hour of your week!
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.
