It’s day 5 of Volunteer Week!
As part of the nation-wide #volunteersweek campaign we’re delighted to showcase Young Glasgow Talent’s amazing volunteers.
Up today is Mairi Damer. A fantastic mentor and dedicated advocate of YGT.
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: Mairi Damer
Mentoring School: Springburn
Length of Time Mentoring: 8 Months
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
I used to be a befriender and was keen to support another young person, so when I spotted a wee article about the project in Glasgow City Council’s newsletter, I signed up!
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
It went very well. I knew the minute we met that we would get on really well, and we do. In fact, we liked each other right away!
Q3: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
My young ‘un has had loads of challenges along the way, but her progress has been amazing. She’s more confident and doing things she wouldn’t have dreamt of a year ago.
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’s getting ready to face new challenges and adventures, and is beginning to see what the world can offer her. She’s going to go to college this year and it will open up whole new horizons to her. It’s scary and exciting in equal measure!
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?
It’s been a brilliant experience, and I’ve loved watching her self-belief begin to develop. I really adore her, and am rooting for her all the time. However, it’s important to say that she has a life very different from my own. Just being with her gives her positive support, and that’s good enough for me!
Q6: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
Watching her begin to see possible futures opening up! It’s been thrilling seeing her begin to feel excited about where further study, new friends and new influences might take her.
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?
Some of the young people we mentor have very different lives than our own – sometimes our values and approaches are miles away from their own, and I think it’s important to try not to impose our rules or way of doing things. It can be frustrating to feel that you aren’t making good progress, but this isn’t a short term fix, consistency and positive encouragement is at the heart of it. If you stick in there, if you build a good, solid, trusting relationship, you’ll see your young person blossom and a brighter future open up for them – and believe me, there’s no better feeling!
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.
