Volunteer Mentor
Staffordshire Through Care Mentoring Project: A partnership between SOVA and Staffordshire Through Care Service.
What is SOVA?
SOVA is a voluntary organisation that recruits, trains and manages volunteer mentors.
SOVA's mission is to increase the involvement of local communities as volunteers working in crime reduction, and offender rehabilitation. It is SOVA's vision that the people of those communities will actively seek to provide access to resources that offenders may use in developing their potential in society.
SOVA aims to promote community involvement in the care of offenders and young people at risk by providing a range of high quality schemes and services.
SOVA has projects throughout England & Wales, working within Prisons, Youth Offending Teams, the Probation Service and Social Service Departments. We deliver "befriending" and "mentoring" activities depending on the focus of the project.
What is Staffordshire Leaving Care Mentoring Project?
The project is a partnership between SOVA and Staffordshire Children & Lifelong Learning Through Care Service. The project provides a volunteer mentoring service tailored to the needs of young people leaving the care of Staffordshire Children & Lifelong Learning. Mentors assist young people (aged between 13 & 21) in making a successful transition into independence.
Who can volunteer for the project?
We welcome volunteers from a variety of backgrounds who can use their experiences to help young people. Volunteers need to be over 18 years of age and be able to commit 2 hours a week to the project for at least 6 months.
What training and support will I receive?
We have a recruitment process and a training course which volunteers must complete to enable them to become a mentor for the project. The course is divided into 2 units that are accredited by the Open College Network to 3 credits each.
Areas covered include:
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Role of a volunteer mentor
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Confidentiality & Boundaries
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Listening & Communication Skills
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The Rights & Responsibilities of the volunteer mentor
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The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000
Ongoing support from project and Through Care staff is available as well as regular Volunteer Support Group Meetings and supervision sessions with the Project Manager.
What activities would I have to do with the young person?
This largely depends on the young person's individual needs.
Examples include:
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Listening to them
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Offering support & guidance
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Helping them with budgeting
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Supporting them with education or employment opportunities
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Accompanying them to appointments
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Introducing them to a new leisure activity
Will I get paid expenses?
Yes. All out of pocket expenses are reimbursed monthly.
How do I find out more?
Please contact Hannah Evans at:
Staffordshire Through Care Mentoring Project
Stafford Area Office
The Business Centre
Madford Retail Park
Foregate Street
Staffordshire County Council
ST16 2PA
E-mail: sova@staffordshire.gov.uk|||
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