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We’re urgently recruiting volunteers to our Junction 21 Mentoring and Advocacy Service, which supports vulnerable young people aged between 10 and 21.
It’s a rewarding opportunity to help and support a young person to make positive life choices.
Since the covid pandemic there has been an increase in referrals so we’re looking for extra volunteers, especially men to act as positive male role models.
Mentors are often the one constant adult in a young person’s life. Social workers, teachers, carers, and sometimes parents, can come and go but you learn tools and are given support to help you to gain the young person’s trust.
It can take a bit of time but when it happens, it’s extremely rewarding.
Before becoming a mentor, volunteers must undertake training to obtain a National Open College Network level 2 qualification in mentoring skills.
This is done through eight three-hour sessions. The next course starts on Wednesday 11 January at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare. Future courses may be run from other locations in the area, subject to demand.
Volunteers must be over 21, have no criminal convictions within the last five years and be clean of any substance issues for five years.
They must commit to sparing a couple of hours a week for a minimum of 12 months.
In return, volunteers receive ongoing training, monthly group supervision, twice-yearly group events and regular relationship reviews.
If you’ve got a couple of spare hours a week and would love to make a positive difference to someone’s life, look on our website, email junction21@n-somerset.gov.uk or call 01275 888 360.