It’s Volunteer Week!
As part of the nation-wide #volunteersweek campaign we’re delighted to showcase Young Glasgow Talent’s amazing volunteers.
This blog covers not one fantastic mentor, but two! Gordon Montgomery and Anne Stirling.
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: Gordon Montgomery
Mentoring School: St Andrews Secondary School
Length of Time Mentoring: 10 Months
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
There are many young people needing a supportive influence in their lives and I felt that I had the skills and spare time to benefit someone who needs it.
Q2: How much have you seen your young person grow and develop since that first meeting?
My mentee has grown from a shy school kid talking about homework to a young adult planning for a career. He is totally at ease during our meetings due to the level of trust and friendship we have built up.
Q3: 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 great experience for me. It’s sometimes challenging because you don’t know what problem a teenager will bring to you next! But it is also very rewarding to help somebody get through whatever issues they have and it’s good to know that they feel they can count on you.
Q4: What has been the major highlight of your experience so far with your young person?
When my mentor referred to me as “the guy who helps me get through stuff”, it was then I knew he understood what I was there for and appreciated what I do for him.
Q5: What would you say to someone that has been inspired by our amazing community and is looking to get involved in the YGT programme?
If you think you could do it, you probably can!
Full Name: Anne Stirling
Mentoring School: Springburn
How Long Have You Been Mentoring Your Young Person For?: 8 Months
Q1: What first inspired you to get involved in our YGT mentoring programme?
YGT is amazing, what an organisation!! It’s a great way to become involved with young adults, to help them towards a successful future.
Q2: How was your very first meeting with your young person?
My first meeting with my Mentee was good, although I think I did most of the talking! Over the months it’s become more relaxed and we’re able to chat freely about her home and school life. We laugh and it’s fun. She has a lovely sense of humour and we have built a good relationship.
Q3: With your support and with your young person’s motivation, commitment and resilience, what stage has your mentee now reached in their journey?
At the moment she is trying out different colleges in Glasgow. This is her going into 5th year and will hopefully do a split placement between school and college. Last year she emphatically said she hated school, and would leave, so it is good that there is a chance she’ll stay on now. Her school attendance at one point was 16%. It went up to 86% – this was achieved by a lot of encouragement from a lot of people!
Q4: 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 say to anyone who might be thinking of mentoring – give it a go, I’m sure you will enjoy it! I certainly do!
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.
