Give the gift of your time and become a volunteer mentor for young people. It could be life changing for you both! Would you like to support a young person on their journey to gaining new skills and experience, becoming more self-confident and achieving their goals? If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you. Why mentoring? Mentoring is at the heart of what we do here at ProjectScotland and we offer every young person we support, the opportunity to be matched with a volunteer mentor. We are searching for people in and around Aberdeen who are able to offer one hour of their time once a week or fortnight for up to 12 months to help transform the life of someone else. The young people we work with all face different challenges in their lives such as; mental ill health, long term unemployment, low confidence and self esteem, care experienced, limited English communication skills due to being new to this country or disabilities. As a volunteer mentor, you could support your mentee with whatever is important to them. This could be: goal setting; identifying interests and strengths; confidence building; helping to establish a routine; support to explore job, training and further education opportunities; social connections; or just someone consistent to talk to and check in with to see how they are. The support you can offer is invaluable and can be life changing. How does it work? • Following recruitment, we provide training, support to join the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme, ongoing support, access to lots of resources and a wonderful community of mentors across the country to connect with, learn from and build friendships with. • you are matched to one young person and meet with them once a week or fortnight for around one hour • meetings can be face to face or virtual using email/telephone/video chat/WhatsApp. There is also an opportunity to do a mixture of the two which offers a flexible and accessible approach to this volunteering role in addition to the match itself. •matches can last from 3-12 months depending upon the relationship and the needs of the mentee What’s in it for you? • Help transform your mentee’s life • Develop communication and interpersonal skills e.g. coaching, motivating others, adaptability • Gain transferable skills and experience volunteering with disadvantaged people • Participate in regular support and training • Meet new people, connect and have fun! • Learn about yourself and gain a sense of achievement supporting others • Learn more about your community and the challenges that people can face If you are interested in this opportunity please email: asia.wieloch@volunteeringmatters.org.uk We would love to hear from you! More info about ProjectScotland: ProjectScotland (part of the Volunteering Matters Family) works with people (predominantly young people) across the country who are struggling to overcome challenges such as social isolation, mental health issues, low confidence and general uncertainty about their futures. By providing wrap around support and the chance to complete a voluntary placement with a local charity; not only can this enhance confidence and self-belief, but it gives that individual the opportunity to build on their skills and experience and potentially move on to a job, further education or training. Everyone we work with is also offered a volunteer mentor.

We are a not for profit community interest organisation supporting young people and children's mental health and wellbeing. We are currently seeking volunteers to provide support during the week at our mum and child sessions. These sessions are provided to help families connect and support one another. Your main role would be set up room, hosting and speaking to parents and tidying the room. If you have small children they can also be there whilst you volunteer. A fantastic opportunity to help and make a real difference. For more information please contact Zara Grant at email: yourloveraracic@yahoo.com or telephone: 01358 741874.

MCR Pathways has been partnering with schools since 2007 so we know just how amazing the young people of Scotland are. However, sometimes due to situations out of their control, young people face challenges that make it more difficult for them to succeed. That’s why providing the simple support of a mentor is so important and has been proven to make a life-changing difference. This is where you can help… MCR recruits and trains volunteer mentors who are matched with a young person that shares similar interests, hobbies or career aspirations. Mentors meet with their young person at their school for just one hour per week and the difference this makes is transformational. The mentoring relationship is unique as young people establish a friendship with someone who’s there, just for them and is not a teacher, parent, guardian or counsellor. The impact on their life is huge. Recent ScotCen research shows 81.6% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 56.3% of those young people not being mentored. We are hoping to help even more young people in the area reach their potential and are seeking volunteer mentors at Lochside Academy, Aberdeen. The only qualification you need to be a mentor is the desire to help. All young people are different and have different needs, so it’s important that our mentors come from all walks of life. Volunteer mentors are asked to commit just one hour a week for a minimum of one year and will be fully trained and PVG checked before being matched with a young person. The building of the relationship with a young person is facilitated by our fantastic MCR Pathways Coordinators who are based in each school and work with our young people on a daily basis. We’re asking you to #BeTheBridge between a young person’s talent and life possibilities. For only one hour per week, you can change a life. Why not do something to make a difference that lasts a lifetime. All help is greatly appreciated. Please register online at https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/ or contact our Mentor Services Team in Aberdeen at email aberdeen@mcrpathways.org / tel.: 07709249661.

Become a Mentor and #BeTheBridge for a Young Person Do you have just one hour per week to meet with a like-minded young person in school and chat about hobbies, interests and career aspirations you have in common? Mentoring charity MCR Pathways are looking for volunteer mentors to sign up and support a young person in one of six Aberdeen schools: Dyce Academy, Harlaw Academy, Hazlehead Academy, Lochside Academy, Northfield Academy and St Machar Academy. Meeting weekly, for a minimum of one year, volunteers can help a young person they are matched with to build confidence, aspirations and work towards a strong post-school destination. Not only does the pupil benefit, but the mentor gains a number of life skills and, most importantly, a friend for life. There are no qualifications required and full training is provided. All MCR asks is that mentors are over 21 and are there consistently for their young person. The signup process can be completed online and the MCR team will be on hand to guide you through each step of the way. You can #BeTheBridge between potential and possibility. There are so many young people who need a mentor that’s there just for them. For further details / to register your interest please visit https://mcrpathways.org/aberdeen/ or contact our Mentor Services Team in Aberdeen at email aberdeen@mcrpathways.org / tel.: 07709249661.