Southend’s young people train for peer mentor status
Published Tuesday 13th July 10 in Council - news and information releases news
Young people helped their contemporaries and won qualifications thanks to a peer mentoring scheme run by Southend Connexions.
Workshops for 13 - 19-year-olds introduced participants to a variety of skills.
These included how to help young people with disabilities to join and take part in Southend Youth Council. These popular workshops enabled 12 young people to gain the theory section of Peer Mentoring qualifications.
Those attending came from a variety of backgrounds such Southend Youth Council, Shoeburyness High School , V involved and voluntary youth groups in the community. The younger peer mentors will now go on to put their theory into practice to complete their Open College Network qualification.
This initiative was developed in conjunction with two Youth Council members who helped write and deliver the programme.
Southend-on-Sea Borough Council's Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor Roger Hadley said: "Workshops like these will greatly benefit local young people. It gives the Peer Mentors a qualification to help open doors for them in future, and of course offers very valuable assistance to those they are helping.
"It is very meaningful, and boosts confidence for the mentor and learner, for people of similar age range to be giving and receiving instruction."
Feedback from the participants (aged 14-19) was very positive with comments such as:
"I learned about empathy" - Chris
"Role play was fun" - Jake
"It is important to know your support networks" - Rosie.
For more details about the training and how to get involved in Southend Youth Council please contact Lucy Bissell on 01702-615291 or e-mail lucybissell@southend.gov.uk