Intandem mentoring needs your help after sad loss

Sir, We recently held an information day at Campbeltown Co-op and it was great to chat to so many lovely locals about the ‘intandem’ mentoring service for children and young people in and around Campbeltown, Kintyre and Islay. Thanks to an initial article in the Courier last month, some local interest was quickly generated. However, very sadly last week and just a month before our first training session, one of our treasured volunteers suddenly passed away leaving a massive hole in the lives of his family but also in the potential for our service. We now urgently need mentors to apply and take part in training sessions on September 21 and 22 in Campbeltown Picture House. Children 1st’s intandem is part of the Scottish Government’s unique scheme to support and mentor ‘looked after’ children, who are living at home, aged eight to 14 across Scotland, with Argyll and Bute one of their target areas. A ‘looked after’ child is one who needs the regular support and assessment of the local authority professionals to ensure their safety and wellbeing. People can be any age and from any background to become an in tandem mentor but will always need the willingness to help a child express their hopes and dreams and rebuild their confidence. Importantly you will need to believe in children’s rights to have an equal life to their peers regardless of their circumstances. We have all had a role model who believed in us either at work, in the family or wider school or community. If you feel you could spare two to three hours per week we would massively appreciate your support. We also think that the compassionate mentor we sadly lost so suddenly would be really proud that Campbeltown folk had risen to the challenge he has left us with. For more info and application packs, visit www.children1st.org.uk or email maggie. farrell@children1st.org.uk or volunteer@ children1st.org.uk

Maggie Farrell, Mentor coordinator, Children 1st.