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Chief Executive and Founder - Andrea Maddocks
Many people ask me why I set up Mentor Link and the simple answer is that I was looking for a new challenge and took careers advice where it was suggested that I mentor young adults in school. In 2002 I volunteered at my local school (the then Bewdley High School) and soon realised that not only was there a great need within schools for this type of service, but this was something that I loved. Five years on I am still delighted that people not only want to help pupils that face difficulties, but also they have a natural ability with them. We have many volunteers from mums to rugby players to retired members of the community and they all have one thing in common- they listen and want to make a difference to young people. I am proud to say that we now have 11 members of staff and 77 volunteer mentors helping over 150 pupils each week in eight schools in the county. Thank you to all our staff, volunteers and Trustees for their continued hard work and support of the work of Mentor Link.
Volunteer Recruiter/Co-ordinator for The Wyre Forest – Claire Quinn My name is Claire and I work as a Volunteer Recruiter/Co-ordinator based a Baxter College. Since joining Mentor Link in February 2005, I have been overwhelmed by the range of challenges facing young people today. It has changed my perception entirely in that they are “children with problems” and not “problem children”. Hearing about the difficulties some young people encounter every day certainly puts car troubles and my 5 year old refusing to get dressed into perspective. Speaking to mentors on a daily basis, it is clear that they get as much out of mentoring as their mentees. Mentor Link is privileged to have a diverse mix of mentors – from 18 to 78, students, employees, parents and those retired, they all bring a wealth of qualities and life experiences to our charity. If you can spare as little as half-an-hour a week and would link to know more about becoming a volunteer mentor in the Wyre Forest area, please contact me on 07973 572768 or at cquinn@baxtercollege.worcs.sch.uk
Appointment Administrator for Baxter College - Jo Beacham I am the Appointments Administrator for Baxter College, arrange the mentor appointments, and provide support and sometimes listening ear for the mentors who come to Baxter. The role is diverse and interesting and no two days are ever the same. I enjoy being part of a busy and lively school even though it can be quiet challenging at times. Mentor Link provides a valuable service and this is reflected in the positive views of many of the teachers I speak to. I am constantly amazed at the diverse range of people who are attracted to mentoring and just how willing people are to give up their own time to help young people in their community. I live in Bewdley with my husband and two young children and have recently taken on the role of unofficial “landscape gardener” to try to revamp my garden into a more inviting place for my kids to play in.
Hello from Karen, I have worked for Mentor Link for nearly 2 years, as Appointment Administrator at Birchen Coppice Primary School, and most recently at Dingleside Middle School. I liase between Mentors and Pupils, booking appointments along with other administrative duties to ensure the smooth running of the service. I thoroughly enjoy my role, meeting the children being mentored, and new and interesting people who want to support the service. My role as Appointment Administrator is challenging as well as very rewarding. I live in Stourport Upon Severn with my two young children, am a keen gardener and belong to Stourport Upon Severn Horticultural Society. Another of my hobbies when I do have the time is embroidery.
Hi I’m Sue Shacklock and I’m the Appointment Administrator at Elgar Technology College in Worcester. I am married with three daughters, the youngest of which is about to start school, giving me the opportunity to do all the things I’ve put on hold for the past 12 years. As well as starting a more challenging job, I’ve also started running. I’ve completed a few 10K races and am about to start training for a half marathon in Cardiff during October. Who knows I may even consider a full marathon one day. In what little spare time I have I organise social events for our local church youth group, help out with two school parent/teacher organisations, D.I.Y and make greetings cards.
Hello, my name is Sue. I began working with Mentor Link in 2006 as a volunteer mentor. I’m a qualified counsellor with experience of working with adults with alcohol related issues, and young adults at Kidderminster College. I recently accepted the position of Supervisor for the Peer Mentoring Project at St John’s Middle School. The Peer Mentoring Project is a great idea, which I’m very happy to be a part of. Pupils from Baxter College Sixth Form, and Year 8 pupils from St John’s were selected and trained as Peer Mentors. They mentor pupils from Years 6,7 and 8, helping in a variety of ways. Even though the project is still in the early stages it’s proving to be quite a success. I’m a single parent with one son who is nearly thirteen he keeps me very busy as a taxi service. In my spare time I enjoy reading, cooking, painting, walking, socialising and travelling, when I get the chance.
Karen Parry - Trainer Our trainer Karen provides Induction Training to all our new volunteer mentors and has a background in providing training to the Retail sector. Karen is married with two daughters and lives near Ludlow. As well as a keen horse rider Karen is Chair of the local playgroup.
Del Bell - Secretary for Mentor Link Hello my name is Del and I began working as a volunteer mentor at St John’s Middle School in 2005. A Secretarial job became available within Mentor Link based and I applied because I wanted to become more involved with the charity and was really pleased to be offered the job. I am married with two grown up sons and have two adorable grandsons and in July 2007 I will become a grandmother again for the third time. Over the last three years I have been to college to study Indian Head Massage, Reflexology and Swedish Body Massage, which I do in my spare time. I also enjoy swimming and badminton which helps me to keep fit.
Julie Sheppard- Volunteer Recruiter Co-ordinator at Elgar Technology College Hi my name is Julie Sheppard and I joined the staff at Mentor Link in January 2008 as Volunteer Recruiter for Elgar Technology College in Worcester and Dingleside Middle School in Redditch. My job is to recruit the volunteer mentors who come into the schools to chat to the students. I previously worked in the charity shop sector for both Oxfam and The Salvation Army and have also worked as a teacher. I am delighted to be working with young people again and am looking forward to the challenge of recruiting as many mentors as possible with the aim that every child who wants a mentor will get one! I live in Droitwich Spa and am married with five children, three very grown up boys and two teenage daughters. My hobbies include internet backgammon and card making and I am absolutely passionate about music. I am a DJ and run my own entertainment company and am out spinning the discs most weekends!
Zoë Elkin- Finance Officer I am Zoë, the Finance Officer and started working for Mentor Link in November 2007. The job title probably says it all, I qualified as a member of the Association of Accounting Technicians in 2001. This job means I can now put all my training to good use. It also means my teenage sons can grab a lift to school occasionally.
Alison Spall - Appointment Administrator, The Bewdley School I am Alison and last year I was a volunteer mentor at Baxter College. I was attracted to the role because I strongly supported the aims and ethos of the charity and wanted to use my experience to help young people locally. I found the experience both challenging and rewarding. When the Appointments Administrator post at The Bewdley School recently became available, I thought it would be an interesting and varied post, which it is certainly proving to be. I am finding it particularly helpful that I have been a mentor myself which provides me with a good understanding of the role and expectations of mentors.
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Appointment Administrator for Birchen Coppice Middle School - Karen Morgan 
Peer Mentoring Project Supervisor:
