Newsletter
Catch up on this month's activity on the Scottish Mentoring Network website. Click the headlines to read more...
Latest News
|
The SMN National Event and Recognition Awards ceremony took place at the Trades Hall in Glasgow on Thursday 17th November and was very well attended with over 100 delegates, from over 50 different organisations, in attendance.
The day was opened by SMN's Strategic Development Manager, Iain Forbes, who delivered an update on SMN activity over the past year followed by showcase presentations from SMN member projects, Tayside Council on Alcohol’s One Stop Women’s Learning Service (OWLS) and the Cross Organisational Mentoring Project between Renfrewshire Council, NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, the National Australia Group and Glasgow Caledonian University.
Delegates participated in facilitated Network and Learning discussions on the Impact of Mentoring and a range of four breakout sessions were on offer.
We were delighted to present this years' SMN Project of the Year Award 2016 to Lochaber Hope, accepted on the day by Alyson Smith and Norma Green.
The Category Award Winners of the SMN Recognition Awards 2016 are shown below:
- Project of the Year 2016 - Lochaber Hope
- Business Project of the Year - GrowBiz Enterprise Mentoring Support
- Care Experienced Young People Project of the Year - Move On (Edinburgh & Glasgow)
- Community Project of the Year - Cothrom - Mentor Uist and Barra
- Culture Project of the Year - Cultural Enterprise Office - Flourish Mentoring
- Disability & Health Project of the Year - Joint Winner: Ayrshire College Peer Mentoring and The National Autistic Society Scotland-Moving Forward
- Education Project of the Year - Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh-Employer Mentoring
- Employment Project of the Year - LinkLiving Ltd - SmartLiving
- Inclusion Project of the Year - Lochaber Hope
- Intergenerational Project of the Year - Covey and Bellshill & Mossend YMCA - Pathways to Confidence
- Justice Project of the Year - Joint Winner: Kirkcaldy YMCA Plusone Mentoring & Tayside Council on Alcohol –TCA Mentoring Services
- Social Care Project of the Year - Phoenix Futures - Communities of Recovery - Glasgow
- Youth Project of the Year - Youth Scotland-Young People Taking the Lead, U: Mentor
In addition to these category awards, yipworld Plusone Mentoring received a Highly Commended Certificate and Very Highly Commended Certificates were awarded to City of Glasgow College-Interior Design Mentorship and Penicuik YMCA Plusone Midlothian. A Certificate of Continuing Excellence was awarded to the University of the West of Scotland for its Employer Mentoring project.
Three staff members who have made a special impact within their project received an Outstanding Employee Contribution to Mentoring Award: Jillian Law from YMCA Scotland, Paul McIlvenny from Youth Scotland and Shug McRoberts from Move On. The Outstanding Mentor Contribution to Mentoring Award was awarded to Danny McCrone from Move On and a number of staff members and mentors received Commended and Highly Commended Certificates.
A Special Award for the Advancement of Mentoring was awarded to YMCA Scotland for its Plusone Mentoring franchise.
A full report on the event and winners is available to download from the resources section of our website here.
Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this one of the best SMN National Events to date. 28 November
| 
|
Covey Befriending, in collaboration with Bellshill and Mossend YMCA, has improved the overall happiness of the families that have been involved with its 'Pathways to Confidence' project.
Operating across Lanarkshire this partnership project aims to improve the outcomes for children aged 8 to 14 and their families who are experiencing difficulties in their lives such as poor mental health, poverty, isolation and substance misuse. Using a whole system approach, mentoring is provided to young people and to parents and carers.
When the project was evaluated by North Lanarkshire Psychological Services they discovered that young people involved had improved their levels of engagement at school and had been socialising and spending more quality time with family.
After six months of having a mentor, parents and carers reported that their mental wellbeing had improved and they felt less isolated and lonely. After a year they reported a reduction in depression and anxiety. They also reported that they were taking part in less risk taking behaviours.
The Pathways to Confidence programme is being funded by the William Grant Foundation, through Foundation Scotland. 28 November
| 
|
The Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland has announced the 13 charities it will support through its intandem programme which aims to help Scotland's most vulnerable young people to build positive, supporting relationships with caring adults.
intandem was co-created by the Scottish Government and Inspiring Scotland and launched by John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education, earlier this year. The programme will offer young people a chance to build a relationship with a volunteer adult mentor who will support them as they deal with difficult experiences and challenges.
Existing mentoring projects have demonstrated that the relationship between a mentor and young person is extremely valuable. intandem charities will carefully screen and match mentors with mentees based on individual circumstances to best suit the needs of the child or young person.
This is the first national programme specifically for children who are looked after at home in Scotland and Inspiring Scotland is looking forward to working with the selected charities to improve outcomes for these children and young people.
After a rigorous three-month selection process, 13 charities have been invited to form the initial intandem portfolio. The intandem portfolio of charities ranges from large national organisations to smaller charities operating within a single local authority or town. They bring a range of experience of mentoring, delivering through volunteers and working with vulnerable children and young people.
Inspiring Scotland will begin to work with the charities immediately to recruit an intandem volunteer co-ordinator who will then recruit, select and train volunteer mentors.
The following charities have been selected to join intandem:
- Aberlour - covering East Dunbartonshire and Inverclyde
- Action for Children - covering Highland
- Barnardo's - covering South and East Ayrshire
- Befriend a Child - covering Aberdeen
- Children 1st - covering Argyll and Bute
- Community Volunteers Enabling You (COVEY) - covering South Lanarkshire
- Kirkcaldy YMCA - covering Fife
- Move On - covering Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian
- Quarriers - covering Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire
- Volunteer Centre - covering Glasgow
- Y People - covering Glasgow and North Lanarkshire
- YMCA Edinburgh - covering Edinburgh
- Y Sort It - covering West Dunbartonshire
More information is available from the new intandem website. 25 November
| 
|
A new institute, based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, will help to shape a brighter future for children who face difficult circumstances in Scotland and beyond.
The Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures (known as ‘Inspiring Children’s Futures’) is a joint venture between the University, CELCIS (the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland) and the Centre for Youth & Criminal Justice. The Institute will be a world-leader, with a collective vision of ensuring that children and young people have what they need to reach their full potential; particularly children who experience adversity.
Plans for the new institute were revealed on Wednesday 23 November by the University of Strathclyde's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Jim McDonald during the annual Kilbrandon lecture. In his announcement, he named the Institute’s new Executive Director as Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director of CELCIS.
Inspiring Children’s Futures will bring together leading academics, policy-makers, and practitioners in this critically important field. Together, the partners will combine their own knowledge and experience with those of children and young people themselves, with the aim of securing a better future for children. This will involve embarking on research projects, running events to encourage best practice, and developing a network of colleagues to share and exchange fresh thinking and ideas.
Protecting children, providing care and support, accessing justice and creating the conditions for children’s wellbeing are global issues. Inspiring Children’s Futures will, therefore be global in reach and will encourage collaboration and networking from colleagues in the UK and internationally. 25 November
| 
|
We are still collecting statistics and stories of change for the next issue of 'Mentoring Works' and are encouraging all members to send us anything they have for inclusion in the report.
This year we want to gather even more evidence which we will collate and publish. This will be used by SMN to promote the effective use of mentoring in Scotland to policy makers and funders and will therefore be a direct benefit to members.
The more data we receive from member projects the more in-depth reporting we can provide on the reach and variety of mentoring across Scotland.
If you are able to contribute statistics on the numbers of mentors and mentees you are currently working with or any case studies or impact stories we would love to hear from you. You can submit any statistics you have via Survey Monkey here and any stories of change observed in your mentees here. 15 November
| 
|
MCR Pathways has been awarded the 'Education Initiative of the Year Award' at the 2016 Herald Society Awards. The awards celebrate projects and initiatives that demonstrate value, innovation and best practice in Scotland’s public and third sectors.
MCR Pathways provides mentoring to raise aspirations of school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The University of Strathclyde and CELCIS are partners alongside agencies including Glasgow City Council, the Robertson Trust, the Scottish Government and Glasgow Kelvin College. It received the Education Initiative of the Year award for its Young Glasgow Talent Programme, which inspires and supports teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds as they unlock their potential and find their talents.
Iain MacRitchie, founder of MCR Pathways, said "Young Glasgow Talent's young people consistently emphasise the difference their mentor makes to them. Trusting relationships are the building blocks on which a young person can have the confidence to explore their potential.
For almost 10 years, MCR Pathway's Young Glasgow Talent programme has been supporting care experienced young people in Glasgow. In that time, over 1000 Glaswegians have committed to those young people in our city that desperately need our help. Helping them to find, grow and use their talents. There are over 3500 looked after young people across the city and Young Glasgow Talent won’t stop until every single one is getting the support that they deserve." 7 November
| 
|
CELCIS is enlisting the help of looked after children and young people in Scotland by inviting them to design the cover of the CELCIS 2016 Christmas card.
Entries will judges by a panel of CELCIS judges based on imagination, originality and creativity and the winner will receive a gift voucher to the value of £50. The closing date for entries is Friday 25 November but entries received before the judging date of 1 December will be considered.
Designs should be:
- Size: A5 or A4 in size
- Greeting: No greeting is required, just the front design
- The card can be designed on plain paper or electronically.
- The finished design will be scanned so should be flat.
- Materials such as cotton wool or glitter can’t be reproduced
- Designs should be original so avoid using stencils and stamps.
- Cartoon characters cannot be reproduced due to copyright laws
- The e-card will be produced in full colour, so designs should be colourful
4 November
|
Events17 November 2016, The Trade's Hall, Glasgow | 08-09 February 2017, SCVO Training Room, Hayweight House, Edinburgh | 23 March 2017, Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue, 16 St Marys Street, EH1 1SU | 03-04 April 2017, Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ | 22 June 2017, The Salutation Hotel, 34 South Street, Perth, PH2 8P | 9 August 2017, Edinburgh Napier (Sighthill Campus) | 13 September 2017, Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock Campus, Hill Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 3HY | 10 October 2017, ACOSVO, Thorn House, 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2PR | 11-12 December 2017, Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ | 31 January 2018, Dundee University, Dalhousie Building Block 1, ground floor room 6 (1G06) , 75 Old Hawkhill, Dundee DD1 5EN | 22 March 2018, AK Bell Library, Sandeman Room, 2-8 York Place, Perth. PH2 8EP | 27 March 2018, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness College, 1 Inverness Campus, IV2 5NA | 9 May 2018, Ayrshire College, Kilmarnock Campus, Hill Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 3HY | 23 May 2018, YMCA Edinburgh, The Acorn Centre, 1 Junction Place, EH6 5JA | 25 September 2018, DYW Perth & Kinross, Saltire House 3 Whitefriars Crescent, Perth PH2 0PA | 6 November 2018, St Paul's and St George's Church, Edinburgh | 28 January 2019, 10am - 1pm, 51 Wilson Street, Brunswick House, Glasgow, G1 1UZ | 05-06 February 2019, Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ | 28 February 2019, 11am -1pm , Centre Stage, Kilmarnock Academy, 15 Elmbank Drive, Kilmarnock, KA1 3BS. | 19 March 2019, 11am - 2pm, Financial Conduct Authority, Quayside House, 127 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, EH3 9QG | 22 May 2019, Link Academy, McKinven House, George Street, Falkirk, FK2 7EY | 28 May 2019, 10:30am -2:30pm Motherwell Concert Hall, Windmillhill St, Motherwell ML1 1AB | 12 June 2019, DC Thomson, 2 Albert Square, Dundee, DD1 1DD | 7 August 2019 | 27 August 2019, 10:30am - 1:30pm Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, 20 Dumbreck Rd, Glasgow, G41 5BW | 2 September 2019, 11am-2pm, Edinburgh Training and Conference Venue, 16 St Mary's St, Edinburgh EH1 1SU | 13 November 2019, St Paul's & St George's Church, 46 York Place, Edinburgh | 28 November 2019, 4th Floor, Hayweight House, 23 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DQ | 4 December 2019, 11am-1:30pm YMCA Edinburgh, The Acorn Centre, 1 Junction Place, EH6 5JA | 24 January 2020, 10:30am- 2pm Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow,G11UZ | 29 January 2020, Old College Building, Abertay University, Dundee, DD1 HG | 5 March 2020, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, 100 Renfrew St, Glasgow G2 3DB, 10:30am -2:pm | 19-20 March 2020, Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ | 23 March 2020, The Barracks, Stirling | 27 March 2020, Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow G1 1UZ | 20 May 2020, Online Zoom (11am-1pm) | 2 July 2020, Zoom | 12 August 2020, Zoom | 9 September 2020, Zoom | 30 September 2020, Zoom | 14 October 2020, Zoom | 11 November 2020, Zoom | 3 December 2020 | 8 December 2020, Zoom | 20 January 2021, Zoom | 3 February 2021, Zoom | 19 February 2021, Zoom | 18 March 2021, Zoom | 21 April 2021, Zoom | 20 May 2021, Zoom | 22 June 2021, Zoom | 25 August 2021, Zoom | 21 September 2021, Zoom | 27 October 2021, Zoom | 8 December 2021, Zoom | 26 January 2022, Zoom | 22 March 2022, Zoom | 19 May 2022, Zoom | 22 September 2022, Zoom | 27 October 2022, The Studio, 67 Hope Street, Glasgow, G2 6AE | 14 December 2022, Zoom | 19 January 2023, Zoom | 28 April 2023, Zoom | 30 June 2023, Zoom | 7 September 2023, Zoom | 25 October 2023, The Studio, Glasgow | 19 January 2024, Zoom | 26 March 2024, Zoom |
|
