#HelpingHands is the latest campaign by Young Glasgow Talent. As we aim to inspire 1000 more Glaswegians, and 5 more organisations, to support our city’s most deserving young people.
Throughout our November and December campaign, we’ll share incredible stories of the resilient young people, motivated mentors and committed organisations that make Glasgow. Who hold out their #HelpingHands. Who go above and beyond for those in our city that desperately need support. Who are encouraging you to join them!
Can You Offer a #HelpingHand?
Today, we’ll meet some fabulous mentors. Who give so much. Craig, Kerr and Mairi all fit mentoring their young person in with their work and home lives. Meeting their young person for one hour a week. Helping them find, grow and use their talents. Encouraging them to stay in school and explore their college, university and employment aspirations. Support that simply wouldn’t be available to that young person otherwise. Our mentor’s #HelpingHands are making a life-changing difference. They want to encourage you to do the same!
“I manage the partnership between Glasgow Life and MacMillan Cancer Support. Throughout my time in this role, we’ve engaged with around 250 volunteers. I couldn’t help but be inspired by those that give their time to other people.
I was at a community networking breakfast and MCR Pathways asked if i was interested in getting involved with their Young Glasgow Talent programme and we went from there! I was initially a bit apprehensive about becoming a mentor and the biggest challenge was probably my first meeting with my young person. The first 10 minutes were a bit awkward, on MY part, asking standard questions of interest. Once I shook myself and realised I was sitting across from a very intelligent and capable person, I got rid of the handbook and we just started chatting informally. This was much more relaxing for the young person who really responded to the informal structure.I wasn’t sure what I could add, but my young person continues to ask and prompt more meetings with me, which shows that he enjoys his time with me.
My young person has had a very tough time of it in the past year. However it always amazes me that he is so socially and emotionally aware of what is going on around him. He has really grown up in the past year and knows how his behaviour can affect other people.
I have loved every minute of this Young Glasgow Talent experience. To anyone inspired by our mentors and young people I would say ‘Do you have a couple of spare hours per week? If so, I would recommend putting them to good use and being part of a fantastic programme which has been designed to help others in need of support. There is no better place to start than that of a young person trying to find their way’.”
Thanks to Craig’s support, his mentored young person has completed his time at school and is now studying at college. Craig is now getting ready to mentor another young person. A young person who simply needs someone to be there for them. To listen to them.
“I started mentoring around 6 months ago. I decided to get involved after hearing fantastic stories about MCR Pathway’s Young Glasgow Talent programme from across the city.
There are lots of people within schools who can potentially offer a young person support. Whereas I’m completely impartial and can offer a type of support that people within a school can’t or don’t. I’ve tried to give my young person independent and unbiased advice. As well as providing plenty of encouragement and offering them direction.
I believe the role of a mentor is to be independent. To not have an agenda. To be there, consistently, and to listen.”
Kerr decided to get involved with YGT after hearing about our programme and seeing more in The Herald. Who continue to support our ambition as we scale city-wide and reach even more young people. Kerr, along with Craig and Mairi, performed at the YGT Kelvingrove event. They were interviewed by our Young Ambassador, William. Showcasing to those visiting our “Bridge to the Future” exhibition why they decided to get involved, and more about the difference they’re making to our city.
“My reason for wanting to become a mentor was possibly a bit selfish. I wanted to be able to do something, because I knew that as a young person, I had a difficult time. I knew that having a positive adult there to support you to achieve makes a huge, huge difference. I was sick of hearing sad stories of Glasgow… about how our children have no future. I want to be somebody who wants to, and plays a part in, making a change in Glasgow.
During my time as a mentor, there have been some quite tricky moments. My young person has a very different life from my own and I had to approach this quite open-mindedly. The overriding thing for me was that the young person I mentored had a huge talent. And she had no sense of belief at all.
The first ‘golden’ moment came six months into our relationship. I kind of saw a light dawning on the horizon. It was going to allow her to do the thing that she was really good at. I can’t tell you how moving that was, to watch her say “oh, I get it!” To see her applying for, and going to, college. She was the first person in her family to do so! It was not a victory for me but for her.
If you can become a mentor, just do it!”
Craig, Kerr and Mairi are incredible mentors. They are three of over 1000 Glaswegians who have signed up to support the young people in our city. There are so many more young people asking for YGT’s help. They need more #HelpingHands. Simply meeting with them for one hour a week provides the consistency and support they need. We’ve shown that having a mentor improves attainment, staying-on rates and positive destinations reached for young people.
We need 1000 more Glaswegians to offer their #HelpingHands. To support those in our city that desperately need our help. You’ll make a life-changing difference. Get Involved.
Can your organisation help? As well as individual mentors, we need Glasgow businesses, large and small, to provide a helping hand to our young people. Can you join YGT Partners including The Herald, Wheatley Group, University of Strathclyde and more, to provide mentors and/or Talent Tasters. We can’t wait to work with you to offer our city’s most disadvantaged a gateway to an expanding menu of opportunities and tasters of employment, college and university.
Please continue to SHARE, SHARE SHARE our blog and social media posts. We also want to hear from YOU! Like the images below, we would love to see a picture of your helping hands! With a message that sums up why you support our city’s most deserving young people getting the help they desperately need.
Please include the #HelpingHands hashtag in your post and send it in to our Twitter page.
