Six charities looking to recruit mentors for young people living in care have been awarded £500,000 between them in funding
Six Scottish charities which offer support to young people who are involved in care have been awarded combined funding of half a million pounds.
Local projects run by Barnardo’s, The Rock Trust, Y Sort It, Ypeople, Up-2-Us and Move On will receive the cash over the next two years from the Life Changes Trust, an independent charity set up by the Big Lottery Fund.
The money will be used by each charity to run peer mentoring services where people from local communities who have experience of being in care will be matched up to offer support, advice and guidance to those still in the system.
Having that one-to-one support can take away some of the fear and loneliness often felt by care experienced young people
This includes those being looked after at home subject to a supervision requirement or away from home - in foster care, in residential care or in a kinship placement, where they are placed with friends or relatives.
The six projects will arrange for mentors and mentees to meet up regularly, allowing them to develop a sense of trust and friendship as they do so.
It is hoped that being able to connect with someone who has faced similar challenges will help those still being looked after feel less alone and in a safe space to be themselves.
Heather Coady, director of the Life Changes Trust care experienced young people programme said: “Having that one-to-one support can take away some of the fear and loneliness often felt by care experienced young people, and gives them a positive and consistent role model and friend.
“Peer mentoring is a key strand of the work we are doing to improve and transform the lives - and outcomes - of care experienced young people.”
The Life Changes Trust was established by the Big Lottery Fund in April 2013 with a 10 year endowment of £50 million to support transformational improvements in the quality of life, well-being, empowerment and inclusion of people affected by dementia and young people with experience of being in care.
