Cardiff Council is calling for people to help provide a valuable support scheme for young adults.
Cardiff’s Leaving Care Mentoring Scheme provides support for young people preparing to leave local authority care. It enables young people to learn new skills and prepare to live independently; from providing positive role models, nurturing confidence building and teaching social skills to helping with job applications and employment, DIY, sports activities, cooking and budgeting finances. Reliability, enthusiasm, a positive attitude, communication skills, confidence, a sense of humour and the ability to be non-judgmental are all essential qualities for a mentor.
The transition to independent living is difficult for anyone, and although the Council has a specialist team to help its young people, the contribution from mentors who can provide valuable additional support can give them a wider perspective, and is really beneficial.
Volunteers work on a one-to-one basis with a young person, addressing any aspect of their life that prepares them to live independently integrate and uses community based activities. Volunteers meet with their young person once a week, usually for 2-3 hrs.
All volunteers receive 24 hours of comprehensive training to prepare them to be a Mentor. They have to have a Criminal Records Bureau check and suitable references before they can be recruited to the project.
Cllr Kirsty Davies, Executive Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing said:
“For many young people who have spent much of their lives in care, the prospect of going out into the big wide world to live independently can be a real challenge. “The mentoring scheme bridges that gap and helps young people to develop the skills and give them confidence, which will ease their path to independent living and help them to realise their potential.” Anyone interested in becoming a mentor or joining the scheme should contact Cardiff Leaving Care Mentoring Scheme, Llanedeyrn Family Support Centre, Roundwood, CF23 9US. Telephone (029) 2054 1401
