Business Mentors

17 March 2010

Can you think of someone who has made a difference in your life?

Often it is not the people that you have most contact with that have the biggest impact - sometimes it is someone that was just there at the right time to offer you support and give you a reason to look at things differently.

That person was a mentor to you and that kind of support is what the mentoring programme is based on.

If you think back to your teenage years, there will have been times when you felt lost or overwhelmed. Sometimes young people just need a friendly ear, someone to really listen to them. They may be struggling with school work, they may find it difficult to organise themselves or be able to plan ahead. Sometimes they just lack confidence in their own abilities.

How can you help?

Business mentors work on a one to one basis with young people who would benefit from having someone who will get to know them. Mentors offer advice and encouragement and share with the young people their own experience of being in the workplace. Mentors become a unique and valuable resource who can contribute to the progress and development of the young person.

You do not have to be an expert on any aspect of the young person's life - just have the patience to listen to them and if necessary, point them in the right direction to find specific help.

Mentors spend up to an hour a fortnight with their young person on school premises.

All mentors receive training and ongoing support from the school and Sefton EBP throughout the relationship and are subject to CRB Enhanced Disclosure

Interested?

LJMU Volunteering will be hosting an information/training session for all interested staff. The first hour or so will be a general overview of the project, if you are still interested after this you can stay on for the rest of the session to train and become a business mentor.

The session will run on Friday 16 April 09.30 - 4pm in the Training Suite at Livepool Students Union. A free lunch will be provided.

Please note if you cannot attend this session but would like to become a business mentor alternative arrangements can be made.

To confirm a place on the training or for further information contact Lucy McGrath (Volunteering Manager) on 0151 231 3850 or l.j.mcgrath@ljmu.ac.uk / volunteering@ljmu.ac.uk