I am Mike Wilkes and I have been a mentor with Mentor Link since 2004. I retired from the Police Force after 32 yrs service and live in Stourport upon Severn with my wife, Lyn and have two grown-up children living in Hereford . I first heard about Mentor Link from Marion, a fellow student on a computer course in Stourport, Worcestershire. She was a mentor and suggested that if I was considering doing some sort of charity work, which I was, then I should think about mentoring. I completed the computer course (just) and worked out that apart from travelling, gardening and reducing my golf handicap I had some spare time to fill.

I spoke to Andrea Maddocks who started Mentor Link and she explained what it was all about. It sounded a very good and worthwhile scheme and was flexible in the time and commitment involved and therefore I thought I try it I began mentoring at Bewdley High School in September 2004.

I started seeing two 13/14 yr old boys on a Wednesday morning for ½ hour each. These were confidential individual sessions and we talked about all aspects of their lives both in and out of school. After a few weeks a third and a fourth boy were included and in 2005 I started mentoring at Birchen Coppice Middle (Junior) School, Kidderminster on Mondays.

I have been a Mentor for the past 18 months. The issues have been varied; every scenario you can imagine and more. My role has been to listen and be non-judgemental, discuss attitudes and dispositions within a student’s social environment and the importance of learning to help develop their full potential. I have “first hand” experience with some of the issues; so been there, done that, got the t-shirt is somewhat very apt. Apologies for the cliché.

I strive to promote respect for themselves and others and provide strategies/activities to channel emotions and disruptive behaviour. I find the experience as a Mentor, both challenging and rewarding and look forward to meeting my students each week. Our meetings are a two-way exchange, fundamental when forming a friendship.

Josie Mills – Volunteer Mentor at Baxter College

Being a mentor has been a most interesting experience. It has given me an opportunity to meet with young people and understand their interests, worries and ambitions. Hopefully, pupils I work with gain something from our meetings. I’ve always believed talking and listening are invaluable ways of coping. Mentor Link as an organisation is very supportive and keeps me going through all the ups and downs of being a mentor.

Diana Sutherland – Volunteer Mentor at Baxter College, Kidderminster

Clifford Byrne pupil at Birchen Coppice Primary School in Kidderminster and Julie Best (Mentor)
 

We have many success stories from mentoring and recently we have had a very positive result from Baxter College. Volunteer mentor Cliff Tonks has been supporting a lad who was presenting some challenges to the teaching staff. Over the months Cliff and P talked about the problems in school and at home. The Head of Year 11 at the school wrote, “P had received a final warning about his behaviour prior to permanent exclusion for all manner of incidents. As a part of his inclusion package, P was offered alternative curriculum, off site provision, reduced timetable, time out and mentoring. The mentor Cliff Tonks made communication with me to formulate the best plan of action for P and also fed back to me on a regular basis. I know how much value he has placed on having such a good mentor and how he has been able to voice his personal concerns about school and home life. Without all these things in place I have no doubt that he would not have stayed in full time education and would not have even considered post 16 options. With guidance from his mentor and help from Connexions he is now looking at a college course in mechanics. I believe strongly that the work of mentor link is an invaluable resource for students like him.

P wrote, “School was somewhere to play up. I wouldn’t be in school now if I hadn’t met Cliff. Where before I would have given a teacher a load of mouth, now I just walk away.

Well done Cliff

Cliff Tonks

Volunteer Mentor, Baxter College.

I started over two years ago. It was time to put something back and re-engage with the world in a new way. As an accountant the contrast could not have been more stark. From the boardroom to classroom.

I have children and grandchildren so dealing with difficult boys was nothing new except previously it was in the role of a dad. Well I’ll let you into a secret, there is not much difference. There are so many boys today living without a male role model. To many a twelve year old boy with no father figure, the world is dominated by women.

I have now mentored five boys. Each has been different and rewarding in his own way. Without breaching confidentially I hope, here briefly is each of their stories:

- M was my first. His dad had just left home and he felt he needed to be “man of the house” to his mum and sisters. His school work had deteriorated and he was troublesome in class. As he improved it transpired he was a talented young actor with a leading role in the school play. Mentoring sessions became rehearsals. I went to see him in his play where he performed well and has never looked back since.

- D was a boy with many problems. He was being bullied and felt quite a social misfit in the school. Seeing me was an escape from the playground where he could talk and talk. I listened and listened.

- J  has been my biggest challenge. He is an intelligent boy with a flair for maths but poor communication. He has been in fights and in trouble with the police. I introduced him to the game of rugby. He now plays second row for Redditch under thirteen’s. He has been named man of the match twice and as his game improves so does his behaviour.

- D has an eating disorder and can be disruptive in class. We had long discussions on how it might be handled including relaxation techniques. We became good friends and talked a lot about football. We were both sad when he moved on to another school.

- T has cerebral palsy and is largely confined to a wheel chair. He is quite sanguine about his problems and loves to talk. Our latest topic is famous battles. We always end each session with a song.

To what degree I have been able to help these boys is hard to say. At the end of each session I always ask if they want to meet again. So far all have always said yes and claim to enjoy the meeting. I can ask for no more. To catch a glimpse of these lads’ lives, to gain their friendship and trust and see into the workings of a modern school is my reward.  

George Cochrane

Mentor Link Volunteer – Redditch