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Could you give up an hour a week to help a young person in Moray?


By Alistair Whitfield

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Volunteers are being sought to develop the talents of young people who have been in care or faced challenges in life.

Tracey Cormack out horse riding with 'Aaliyah'.
Tracey Cormack out horse riding with 'Aaliyah'.

The Mentoring Young Talent Programme was launched near the start of last year to help pupils at Buckie and Elgin High.

However, it's now been expanded right across Moray with an age range of 12-24.

Mentors are each matched with a young person and spend one-to-one time with them.

The goal is to boost their confidence and offer them new experiences, as well as help them gain skills and qualifications.

Christine Fairbairn, the programme's co-ordinator said: "Mentors need to be able to commit to providing at least an hour of support a week for a 12-month period.

"They are there to be an impartial adult who the young person can talk to and be someone who they can build a positive relationship with.

"In previous programmes the young mentees have seen both their confidence and self-esteem increase.

Tracey Cormack believes there are benefits in being a mentor as well.

A human resources manager with the drilling company Diamond Offshore, she joined the mentoring program as a volunteer last year.

She said: "It’s been a thoroughly rewarding so far and my relationship with my mentee is great.

"I enjoy the time we spend together and getting to know this young person with so much potential.

"All it takes is for me to give up an hour of my week.

"Yes, I am as busy as everyone else, but I can find an hour and the potential benefits are incredible.

"Please consider if you’re based in Moray, I can’t recommend it enough."

To find out more about becoming a mentor or other opportunities within the programme, email mentoring@moray.gov.uk

For immediate release: 13 January 2021

The pictures show Mentor Roberta Walker with mentee Aaliyah.

We are unable to provide Aaliyah’s surname for personal reasons

Mentors are being sought to support young people in Moray.


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