Mentoring and Education Unit

UR Shout Mentoring Project

The UR Shout (You Are Supporting Helping Others Understand Themselves) Mentoring Project involves the recruitment and training of volunteers in the community to work on a one-on-one basis with young people considered to be at risk by their referring agency or school. Volunteer mentors then meet with their mentees for one hour per week providing support and advice as necessary.

The UR Shout Mentoring Project is a National Mentoring Network Approved Provider and has consistently met its targets for the recruitment of volunteers and matching them with at risk mentees. The project has also had notable success in providing mentoring training within schools as part of a "Buddy" scheme and to other partner agencies such as Connexions.

Community Education

Initally started as a drugs education project under the banner of "Communities Against Drugs", the Community Education team now not only raises awareness of the risks, effects and consequences of drugs use but also covers issues such as alcohol awareness, sexual health, health and hygiene and anger management.

These workshops and sessions are delivered in a variety of mediums both directly to young people, to parents and carers, and also indirectly by recruiting and educating young people to deliver these training sessions to their peers using the peer education model.

A number of events and workshops were run during the last year, and information display boards have been put in place in several youth clubs and community centres. Support groups and networks have been developed for those parents or carers of substance abusing individuals, enabling people who do not belong to community groups the opportunity to access advice and support more easily.