UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 24 JANUARY 2023
Children and young people in Birmingham are set to benefit from a brand-new mentoring programme, thanks to a partnership between Birmingham City University (BCU), charity Barnardo’s and local community interest company Our Place Support.
The programme, which is funded by Birmingham Children’s Trust, will recruit volunteer mentors from the University’s community – including students, staff and graduates – to help shape the future of young people right across the city.
The service will form part of the Early Help system, which aims to emphasise early intervention in the lives of children, young people and families to stop potential specialist needs from escalating in the future.
As a volunteer mentor, BCU students and graduates will have the opportunity to gain real-life work experience through mentoring, while also helping to make a difference in their mentee’s life.
Professor Julian Beer, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Birmingham City University, said: “As the University for Birmingham, it is important to us that we continuously work together with organisations to help better serve the local community in which we are a part of.
Mary Lewis, Children’s Services Manager at Barnardo’s, said: “Barnardo’s Birmingham is excited to be working with Birmingham City University and Our Place in delivering this much-needed Early Help Mentoring Service to children and young people.
“Our combined experience will ensure the volunteer mentors will be fully equipped to deal with any challenges and the different situations they may face when working with children and young people.
“As well as gaining real-life work experience, student and volunteer mentors will also have access to a diverse range of learning and development opportunities through Barnardo’s.”
Following a rigorous screening process, students and graduates who are successfully recruited as a Volunteer Mentor will be matched with a child or young person.
Once matched, Volunteer Mentors will meet with their mentee once a week for a 45-minute mentoring session over the course of six to 12 weeks.
Mentees will also be able to attend on-campus events organised by BCU, in order to raise aspirations and unlock a range of opportunities.
Kelly Round, CEO at Our Place, said: “Our Place Support are an established provider of mentoring services for children and young people. We are thrilled to be working alongside Barnardo’s and Birmingham City University in the delivery of this Early Help service; giving us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience for the benefit of Birmingham’s children and young people.”
BCU and Barnardo’s currently work closely to fill graduate-level roles, with this new project further strengthening the continued successful partnership. The University will also work to refer appropriate members of staff and local employers to become mentors for the service.