Le Chéile Mentoring has launched a new recruitment campaign for mentors of young people and parents.
Anne Conroy, Chief Executive, Le Chéile
The Le Chéile campaign is seeking potential youth and parent mentors who want to help change lives for the better. It comes ahead of National Volunteering Week that will run from 21-27 September 2020.
Le Chéile Mentoring is the national volunteer mentoring and family support service. It provides a one-to-one mentoring service for young people and parents referred by the Probation Service, An Garda Síochána, and the Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
Established in 2005, the organisation works in partnership with the Probation Service and An Garda Síochána to reduce the level of crime in the community. It recruits, trains, and supports volunteers from local communities to provide a supportive relationship for young people and their parents.
Young people mentored are generally between the ages of 12 and 23 years, are at risk of offending or re-offending, and have vulnerabilities or issues that require help. Mentors for young people must be over 21 years and mentors for parents over 25 years. In 2019, a total of 237 young people and 78 parents across Ireland were supported by Le Chéile.
What is Mentoring?
“Mentoring is an opportunity to enable young people and parents to get the most out of life,” explains Anne Conroy, Chief Executive, Le Chéile.
“Mentors come from all walks of life, but they each have one thing in common and that is a passion to make a difference and help people find their way in life. Mentoring is as simple as having a friendly chat with someone and talking through the issues that may be going on for them. It can be a catch-up over coffee, a walk in a local park, or a trip to the cinema.
“For young people, mentoring provides stability and helps to build their self-esteem and sense of belief about what they can be and do. It is about showing them life’s possibilities, that they have something to contribute, helping them set goals and make positive choices.
“For parents, it is about giving advice and encouragement on different issues that can arise looking after their children. It’s about sharing parenting skills, building confidence, and reducing stress.
“We are looking for mentors with open hearts and open minds, people who can relate easily to the young people and parents they are mentoring. People who, above all, never give up on someone. People who listen and care. I would encourage anyone who thinks they fit the bill to get in touch and apply to be a mentor today.”
Donncha Ó Donnchadha has been mentoring with Le Chéile since 2013.
Donncha feels that he gets as much out of mentoring as he gives:
“It is so important to young people to have someone outside of their immediate family and friends that they can talk to in confidence and clear their heads. Someone they can respect and trust, with whom they can share their feelings, and can talk to about problems and how they might fix them.
“Ultimately, it’s about showing young people the kind of future that is theirs for the taking, that they have control over their destiny, and supporting them on that journey towards a better life. It’s about keeping focused on the objective and, when things go wrong, getting back on track. For me, I get as much out of the relationship as I hope the person I am mentoring does. Mentoring is an experience I know will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
To become a Le Chéile mentor, apply online at www.lecheile.ie/volunteer
The closing date is Friday, October 16.
For more information on mentoring, contact Maxine Kelly, Le Chéile National Volunteer Development Officer
Phone: 087 2016801
Email: maxine@lecheile.ie.
SOURCE: Materials provided by Le Cheile
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