Mentor Link Recruit 38 New Volunteer Mentors

The charity, Mentor Link, received a grant from WCF’s Inclusive Communities Fund for their Volunteer Recruitment project.

WCF partnered with West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner to support grassroots organisations across Worcestershire, particularly amongst minority and vulnerable groups, working on innovative projects to create safer and more confident communities, develop community cohesion, or address early-stage crime prevention and, which had long-term impact.

Mentor Link is a Stourport based children’s charity offering long-term, weekly, social and emotional support to disadvantaged and vulnerable young people. Mentors work one-to-one with young people, offering guidance, support, and a listening ear to help them build confidence, develop resilience, and reach their full potential.

The grant enabled the charity to recruit 38 new volunteer mentors in Wyre Forest, Worcester and Redditch and, increased diversity among mentors to better engage with marginalised communities in these areas.

One mentee said:

“Mentor Link have created a safe, encouraging and supportive space for me to open up and express my thoughts and feelings. [My mentor] is always understanding, patient and accommodating and has the most amazing guidance and advice to help with any issues. I feel I have developed a much more positive outlook to life and I now have many strategies to cope with any difficulties. I will always be grateful to them for the extreme positive impact that it has had on me and my life. Thank you so much!”

One school said:

“I wanted to say how happy we are with the work done with our pupil. When he was referred, we had regular suspensions and we were afraid down the line he might be a candidate for a permanent exclusion. I am delighted to say that his attitude towards school has improved no end as has his behaviour and this I am sure is in no little part due to the work his mentor has done with him.”

To learn more about Mentor Link go to https://www.mentorlink.org.uk/.

For more information about the Inclusive Communities Fund go to https://www.worcscf.org.uk/grants/inclusivecommunitiesfund/.