MEMBER NEWS: The Promise Stories for Change

The Promise Stories for Change campaign is part of the programme of change that is driving people and organisations to #KeepThePromise. We're sharing this article from our partners at intandem who have shared the changes they made in order to Keep The Promise.

"Having a mentor has made me a lot happier... I was really struggling, mentally, physically...but when I got my mentor, she brightens stuff up... it feels like she genuinely takes some of the stress off my shoulders."

-- Cara, a young person supported by intandem

Cara is one of around 200 children and young people supported by intandem , a national mentoring programme for children and young people who are in the care of their local authority - or at risk of becoming so - and living either at home or in kinship care.

Established in 2016, intandem is managed by Inspiring Scotland and delivered by partner charities across 19 local authorities.

Scotland made a promise to its children that they will grow up loved, safe and respected so they can realise their full potential. Providing trusted relationships and building confidence are an essential part of keeping this promise.

Weekly community-based mentoring has powerful results, changing the trajectory of children and young people's lives:

It's impacted my life choices a lot.

-- Young person

He told me he'd learnt to trust again, which was nice to hear.

-- Mentor

She's made me realise that not every person is there to hurt me.

-- Young person

Keeping the Promise has meant a change in approach

Much has changed since intandem started matching volunteer mentors with children and young people in 2017, and the programme has changed and evolved in response.

Working towards keeping the promise, intandem has reviewed the eligibility criteria for children and young people mentored, in order to remove barriers to support.

Initially, only children and young people on a Compulsory Supervision Order and living at home were eligible for intandem. This created a barrier to support for:

• young people awaiting a hearing, or
• those whose home circumstances changed while they were waiting for support-- for example, if they entered kinship care.

Gathering examples from families supported by partners across the country, and with funders' support, intandem are now supporting young people in kinship care and those on the edges of care, either at home in kinship arrangements.

Click on the link below to read the full article at the Promise Website: