Today we’re Meeting Our Mentor, Peter McGrath. Like all of our mentors, Peter has a unique and amazing mentoring story. All focused around his amazing young person.
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: Peter McGrath
Mentoring School: Drumchapel High School
Length of Time Mentoring: 6 months
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
I understood that many ‘looked after’ children , through no fault of their own, had challenges in their life and I felt that maybe I had something to offer to them. I appreciated that they had many talents but perhaps fewer opportunities than others and therefore deserved our support. I also wanted to give something back to the community of Glasgow.
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
I think it was quite exciting but at the same time nerve wracking especially in the first few minutes. Our YGT Co-ordinator introduced us and then left us to it! After 10 or 15 minutes we both started to relax and we had a very informal discussion about the programme, about my mentee and our mutual expectations of the programme and our relationship.
Q3: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
I think he’s become more relaxed and more confident in our relationship. I also believe he’s trusting of me and what I can do in very practical ways to support him. I think he’s also felt more comfortable in telling his mum about the sorts of things we discuss in our meetings.
Q4: With your support and with your young person’s motivation, commitment and resilience, what stage has your mentee now reached in their journey?
He’s in S3 and choosing his subjects for National 4 exams next year. He’s also working well and starting to think about a possible future career. We’re using the ‘My World of Work’ website as a tool to do this.
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 great. Our relationship is a marathon not a sprint so things can move slowly and then pick up speed. I’ve seen him develop and I also feel that I’ve also learned from him.
Q6: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
My mentee feeling able to share his aspirations for the future with his family.
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?
Every mentee and mentoring relationship is different – no two are the same. You’ll get huge personal satisfaction as you see your young person grow and flourish and you feel that you’ve helped to unlock their potential. You’ll also learn a lot from them too! Go for it!
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.
