School calls for mentors (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

School calls for mentors

Springfield School in Calne is looking for mentors to support its pupils. Mentors are volunteers who give a few hours of their time a month to meet with young people to listen and talk to them.

"Mentoring is a powerful tool that can help the social, emotional and academic development of a young person," said Helena Robinson of the Mentoring Network.

Springfield School is beginning a new mentoring programme to support its current Year 10 and 11 students. The school hopes the scheme will increase the pupils' self-esteem, help them to reach their full potential and start considering their future options.

Wiltshire and Swindon Mentoring Network, which is part funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund. is helping the school set up the scheme.

Before becoming a mentor, volunteers will receive an induction and have a criminal records check.

They will also be given the opportunity to attend a nationally recognised training course and receive an NVQ credit.

If you are interested please contact Helena Robinson on 0845 4568397 or Amanda Taylor at Springfield School on (01249) 814125.