£1 million available for first phase of programme that will support looked after children
A charity led mentoring programme will see children and young people who are looked after at home offered extra support to overcome the barriers they face.
Up to 400 eight to 14 year olds in Scotland will be offered one-to-one support as part of Intandem, a Scottish Government programme being delivered by Inspiring Scotland.
The programme will see young people who choose to take part matched with a trained volunteer and together they will aim to build a positive, trusting, supportive and secure relationship.
Currently there are over 1600 eight to 14 year olds in Scotland who are looked after at home. Being looked after at home means they have been placed under a supervision requirement as part of the Children’s Hearing process but it is hoped problems affecting them can be resolved without putting them in to full-time care.
Many of those young people will however have experienced considerable difficulties and obstacles due to a family or social situation and are among the most disadvantaged in society with regards personal outcomes in life.
The experience of a mentor will for many young people be transformational
Inspiring Scotland is inviting voluntary organisations with experience of providing mentoring or befriending services, that work with vulnerable or looked after children and young people, or that provide one to one support to individual children to apply for the first phase of funding to deliver the mentor programme.
Up to £1 million is being made available and those who are successful will receive on-going support across a range of issues, such as volunteer recruitment and training, and growing the programme.
There are no upper or lower limits to how much a charity can apply for.
Organisations will be expected to have achieved or be working towards the attainment of either the Befriending Networks’ Quality in Befriending Award or the Scottish Mentoring Network’s Quality Award.
Organisations will have to take part in agreed evaluation and reporting processes, overseen by Inspiring Scotland.
Speaking at the launch of the programme John Swinney, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for education, said in his experience as a government minister the most important thing was to listen to those who are affected by measures, services and provisions in order to maximise the effect of them all.
“The national audit we carried out last year demonstrated significant mentoring and befriending services provided for young people but very little was specifically were focussed for young folk who are looked after,” he said.
“The experience of a mentor will for many young people be transformational.
“Intandem reflects the distinctly Scottish approach that we are taking to issues. We are building on the strengths and the assets of local communities, particularly people working together in partnership and I hope through the opening up of this funding we can find individual projects at local level which make a difference in the lives of young people by providing the support where it is required.”
Celia Tennant, chief executive of Inspiring Scotland said: “We’ve been keen to get involved in supporting looked after children for quite some time, recognising the huge need that is there to help them improve their lives.
“What we do at Inspiring Scotland is aim to change people’s lives for the better through long term funding for charities and development and support as well.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working with over 200 charities in Scotland since 2008 and we look forward to forming new partnerships through Intandem.”
The deadline for applications is 9 September. Full details are available on the Inspiring Scotland website.
