Education

Companies support their staff to volunteer an hour per week to work alongside Key Stage Two children (eight to ten year olds). These programmes have won both the Belfast Telegraph Business and NICVA/Camelot Link awards for Outstanding Community Involvement.

Over 100 companies across Northern Ireland now provide Time to Read volunteers for local schools.

Benefits to the company include:

• develops staff confidence
• develops self-esteem and communication skills
• motivates staff and enhances teamwork
• raises profile in the local community
• builds partnerships with local schools
  

Benefits to the schools include:

• provides an insight into the business world
• motivates and develops children academically and socially
• introduces children to a positive role model from the world of work
• enables children to work on a one-to-one basis improving communication skills

This programme links young people with a mentor from the local business community. Meeting with an adult outside the formal education structure on a regular basis and developing a relationship based on trust with that mentor offers young people opportunities to build self-confidence, discuss the issues they face in an honest and constructive way, appreciate the relevance of learning to their lives, link into the world of work and also encounter a positive role model.

Although all young people would benefit, to a greater or lesser degree, from having a mentor, the Student Mentoring Programme works primarily with young people who:

• have the potential to achieve but who are currently underachieving or have lost interest in school or study
• have a low level of self confidence or have poorly-developed social skills
• are lacking in support from home
• the school and the young person feel would especially benefit

Mentoring is a rewarding and challenging voluntary opportunity for any member of staff. Companies whose employees mentor in schools find that these individuals have developed creative abilities that can be brought to bear in the workplace, most notably in building communication and inter-personal skills and experience in enabling others to recognise and reach their potential.

No specialist experience is necessary
Business in the Community wants to hear from any company willing to offer opportunities for enthusiastic, patient and willing employees to get involved. Support and training is offered to all mentors. For further information contact Graeme McKimm, Education Manager with Business in the Community, on (028) 9046 0606 or e-mail Graeme McKimm.