“Holding out a helping hand is what our mentors do, what we as young people do for other young people. It’s what everyone involved with YGT does, our partners and our staff. If everyone held out their hand to help someone, the world we live in would a much better place.”
Shannon, a Young Glasgow Talent Ambassador, perfectly summed up our volunteer mentoring programme. At our Kelvingrove ‘Bridge to the Future’ exhibition opening, she emphasised that by providing a helping hand to a young person now, you’ll support those who will be there for you in the future.
Following our incredible evening at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, we’re delighted to introduce our #HelpingHands campaign. To inspire even more Glaswegians to become a volunteer mentor. To encourage more businesses (small, medium and large) to get on board!
Throughout the campaign we’ll showcase our phenomenal volunteer mentors. Who make the choice to go above and beyond for our city and who make a life-changing difference. Mentors support inspiring young people. Who face challenges and circumstances that can be very different from our own lives.
You really do so much fantastic work. I’m glad I can play some part in helping!” Robert, Sopra Steria.
It’s not just individuals that offer a helping hand. There are many Glasgow businesses completely committed to supporting our young people. Inviting them into offices, design studios, theatres and universities across the city. Opening their doors. Joining young people as they explore various industries in an innovative and unique way. Sparking aspirations.
#HelpingHands will share the inspiring stories of the young people, mentors and organisations that make Glasgow. To encourage even more Glaswegians to get involved and support the young people in our city that desperately, and deservingly, need your help.
Our “Bridge to the Future” exhibition, which will remain in the Kelvingrove until the new year, was all about #HelpingHands.
Shannon led the evening’s performances which unveiled the exhibition. A mentored young person, she is being supported throughout her secondary school years. Shannon is also providing a helping hand to others, and will do so in the future. As an Ambassador, she helps develop YGT’s programme and is a voice for her peers. Making a difference to the generations of young people that will follow her.
“Young Glasgow Talent is centred around us young people. We are the next generation of parents, doctors, social workers, teachers, artists… and even world leaders! But most importantly, we are going to be the people who others will come to rely on. And when you are older, we won’t forget what you have done for us. My generation will hold out a hand to you, we will be a listening ear and we will take care of you”.
Throughout the evening other young people delivered incredible performances. Sharing the difference their mentor has made to them and how they’re being supported to find, grow and use their talents.
Behind the successful transformation of their educational outcomes and life-chances is a totally dedicated mentor and committed Glasgow organisations.
Organisations such as Glasgow Life. Who truly go above and beyond with the helping hand they offer. Providing mentors and delivering Talent Taster opportunities. Opening the doors of some of the city’s finest venues for our young people to explore so many career opportunities. As well as providing a sensational setting in the Kelvingrove Community Space for our young people to have their inspiring voices heard!
“Glasgow Life is delighted to host and showcase this amazing exhibition. Demonstrating completely the passion, enthusiasm and commitment of the young people. It really celebrates the rich and life-affirming relationships mentors and the amazing young people MCR Pathways hold. It really does demonstrate that People Make Glasgow,” Dr. Bridget McConnell CBE, CEO of Glasgow Life.
MCR’s founder, Iain MacRitchie, was grilled on the night by Young Ambassador Rachel. To learn and share YGT’s plans for the future. How we’ll provide a helping hand to future generations:
“”I thought I was well used to the pressure and nerves of speaking to a large audience. However being interviewed on stage by one of our young people was totally different. Especially since the last time I saw her, I stole her chips. Apprehension and uncertainty took over. I did what I hadn’t done for a while and looked at who was on the front row that I might have to apologise to for being incoherent. However Rachel asked me the first question and smiled. The smile did it and I felt a little more comfortable. Still not sure my first answers were clear and that I didn’t waffle. I had already been told by our young host for the evening that I would be cut immediately short if I went off on one. I knew she would but thankfully she didn’t. Phew!”
“We have a fantastic plan for Glasgow and huge ambitions for our young people. It is inspiring to be part of an organisation which has over 1000 people now registered and wanting to help. It is and will always be about each individual young person and offering them that helping hand. A hand which all of us need at some point to find, grow and use our talents. YGT Young people are the future of our great city. We have all a positive responsibility to make sure we give them all the help we can to create a fairer, brighter future for us all.”
#HelpingHands will be a fantastic campaign. We can’t wait to share with you some truly incredible stories. We would also love for you to get involved. To share our blogs and social media posts and for you to join our amazing mentor and partner communities. The more Glaswegians hearing our young people’s voices, the more volunteers there will be to provide a vital helping hand to a deserving young person. To show us the helping hand you offer!
To sign up and offer a helping hand to a young person now, learn more about BECOMING A MENTOR.
If your organisation can join our incredible partners such as Glasgow Life, Wheatley Group, SECC and University of Strathclyde, GET INVOLVED!
Please keep an eye out on our Twitter, Facebook and YouTube channels and share your #HelpingHands inspiration!
