The search is on for people who can spend an hour a week meeting up with Lochaber High School pupils to offer them support.
Long established charity, MCR (Motivation, Commitment and Resilience) Pathways operates in schools throughout the country – co-ordinating a team of volunteer mentors prepared to help young people, many of whom have issues at school or in their personal lives.
All that is asked in becoming a mentor is to give an hour of your time to a young person during the school day, listening, chatting or even playing games, allowing them the opportunity be themselves and discuss any concerns they may have in a safe and stable environment.
Recently Lochaber High School Co-ordinator, Holli Salmond and a few of her colleagues held a ‘Coffee Conversation’ for existing and potential mentors to review the operation of the scheme within the school.
The group discussed how things were going on an individual level and looked at the need for more mentors.
Each mentor is only allowed to meet with one pupil in the school, so there is a requirement for more people to take on the role with several young people on a waiting list.
No particular qualifications are needed, other than a good ear and ability to share life experience.
Training will be undertaken to make sure the right match can be made before bringing the mentor and young person together.
Holli said: “This is a great thing to do and it can have a major, even life -changing effect on the young person and also be a very rewarding experience for the mentor.
“All we ask of a mentor is to come into school for an hour a week to spend time with a young person.
“Even that act, showing that someone is there just for them can be a tremendous boost which can really help them in school and there personal lives.
“At the moment we have several pupils in need of a mentor and I am would be delighted to hear from anyone who thinks they may able to help.”
Holli can be contacted at Lochaber High School 01397 702512 or by email on
holli.salmond@mcrpathways.org.
Photograph: A Coffee Conversation between MCR co-ordinators and volunteers at Lochaber High School. Photogroph: Iain Ferguson, alba.photos. NO_F52_MCRPathwaysAppeal_23