I...ME (Impact, Motivate, Empower) Mentoring provides support and mentoring for looked after children (LAC) aged 10-15 years in Islington.

The project works closely with Islington Children’s Services, matching young people with volunteer mentors with whom they meet regularly and who provide inspiration and support, and work to increase young people’s self esteem, confidence and achievements.

Looked after young people can face specific challenges and barriers to progression, and the project works to break down these barriers, enabling the young people to fulfil their potential.

Meetings might involve shared activities or trips to a museum or the cinema,  or might simply provide an opportunity to talk about school, home of friends.

The project is part of a DfES (now the Department for Children, Schools and Families) commissioned national pilot investigating adult (18 and over) to child mentoring relationships for Looked After children living in foster care and residential children’s homes settings.

Led by Rainer, the National Charity for underprivileged young people in a strategic partnership with Prince’s Trust and the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, the pilot has commissioned a range of mentoring providers to deliver 600 mentoring relationships by March 2008.

The pilot scheme will explore the benefits of one-to-one mentoring to Looked After young people in terms of its effect on:

• Supporting the young person’s educational aspirations and achievements
• Increasing the mentee’s self-esteem, confidence and sense of wellbeing
• Encouraging their increased participation in social networks and group and community activities.

For more information or to apply to be a mentor, please contact,
Dave Hopper
020 7643 1317
dhopper@csv.org.uk