VolEmploy Mentoring

VolEmploy Mentoring Programme
Funded for five years by The Big Lottery, this programme provides one to one support to unemployed individuals, especially from BME backgrounds and deprived communities in Westminster, to help them develop effective techniques and strategies to improve their quality of life and confidence in their employability issues.

Progress:
The project started delivering its services in October 2011 and since then the number of users has exceeded target. Over 70 mentor/mentee relationships were developed in the first six months. Furthermore a number of beneficiaries of the scheme have already entered formal paid employment.

"I had nearly lost hope before I started the mentoring and used to think that I will never find a permanent job" Mentee Read the testimonial

Mentors needed:
The more trained mentors we have, the more unemployed people we can help. We are therefore looking for employees to who can spare 1 or 2 hours per week to become volunteer mentors, empowering unemployed individuals to build confidence, helping to break down barriers to employability.

Mentoring training is provided, and support & supervision are in place to support all our mentors in their role.

"I mentored Najla Ahmed for 4months and I believe she made significant improvement towards her career prospect." - Kemi Read the testimonial

No specific qualification is needed to become a mentor, but preferably you will be employed, have skills and knowledge of job searching, writing job applications, editing CVs, interview techniques, and be motivated to encourage mentees to get involved in volunteering to break social isolation.

Mentoring sessions take place at times and places to suit the requirements of both mentors and the mentees they are supporting.

Volunteer Centre Westminster is located at 53-55 Praed Street, W2 1NR, between Paddington Station and Edgware Road. The closest tube stations are Edgware Road (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith and City and District Lines) and Paddington (Bakerloo, Circle and Hammersmith and City Lines).

For more information or to join us as a “Mentor” or to refer unemployed clients as Mentees
Please contact the scheme manager Yohannes Hagos on:

Tel: 020 7087 4351
Email: johannes@volunteer.co.uk