Lord Freud helps troubled teens get backing of older people

A ground breaking project designed to help troubled teenagers avoid turning to crime and designed to improve their prospects in life is to be launched by Lord Freud and the volunteering charity CSV (Monday 14th June 2010) . The launch at The House of Lords will be attended by Iain Duncan Smith, the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Teenagers will be offered grandparent-style mentors as part of a three year pilot that hopes to expand nationwide. Trained and screened senior volunteer mentors will be matched with young individuals aged between 14-19 particularly those not in education, employment or training. The ‘Grandmentors’ will assist with career planning, getting back into mainstream education and supporting care leavers to adapt to independent living. 

Lord Freud approached CSV (Community Service Volunteers) to take on the challenge of establishing whether older people can mentor and support troubled youngsters to make an effective transition into adulthood. The objective is to discover whether the traditional grand parenting role is an effective basis for mentoring young people. The pilot is financed with support from Lord Freud’s family charity and Sir Harry Solomon. 

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said: "It's clear that older people have an important role to play in building a Big Society, forging closer intergenerational links and strengthening communities. I look forward to seeing the Grandmentors programme in action and hope that it will encourage key values such as respect, responsibility and civic awareness that are essential to tackle social breakdown and help young people take control of their lives and make the right choices for themselves and their families."

Speaking about the need to establish Grandmentors, Lord Freud said:

“I think there is a huge, untapped resource of older and retired people who could transform the lives of youngsters, many of whom don’t have someone independent to talk to. I also think there’s huge potential in jumping a generation to help tackle some of the serious problems facing young people in our society. I think it’s much harder to grow up with so many competing pressures, but there are many older people who could provide practical and emotional support.”

Referral partners are Islington Youth Offending Service, Islington’s Children’s Service and BSix College in Hackney. 

There are 60 matches planned with ‘Grandmentors’ by 2013 and, if successful, this pilot will lead to nationwide expansion.  The aim is to reduce the numbers of young people not in employment, training or education by taking all appropriate steps to support the participants. The project will be evaluated by an independent research team from Manchester Metropolitan University, led by Professor Chris Fox.

Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director, of CSV said:

“Young people treasure the fact that someone has chosen to work with them and not be paid for it.  For many, it’s a unique experience of consistent supportive caring.  We look forward to offering every troubled young person nationwide the support of a Grandmentor.

The project will help young people facing a range of challenges, some require new skills and direction, others may be at risk of offending.  Dame Elisabeth continues, “If just one individual is diverted from crime and custody, the nation will save half a million pounds.” 

Sir Harry Solomon, says: "I am delighted to be involved in this project which I believe is a really worthwhile and valuable initiative. The opportunity of being able to take advantage of the knowledge, wisdom and enthusiasm of such experienced members of our Society could be of enormous value. It is very exciting".

One of the first volunteers is 56 year old Sarah, Grandmentor to Joe, 16.  She says:  “I am there to listen and support and if necessary, give advice and to facilitate. I’m not a social worker or teacher or one of the other people that a young person might encounter professionally as they grow up so hopefully the fact that there is no agenda may make our meetings more relaxed and allow a space where real feelings can be expressed.” 

Joe, 16, looks forward to the opportunity.  “I want to get myself back on track, learn a trade and live my life. It’s nice to have someone to give you a kick-up the backside every now and then and maybe Sarah can help with this. Mum and dad also think it’s great to have someone extra to help me out. This will be a chance to meet someone entirely different outside of the school system or other youth projects and I’m looking forward to showing Sarah a bit of my world and seeing a bit of hers too.”

Tim, 63, trained as a lawyer before working in the City for 35 years as a merchant banker. Reflecting on his decision to volunteer to help troubled young people, Tim said:

“I feel I’ve had a charmed life and that I should give more back. I’m still extremely fit; I have the time and am particularly concerned about the welfare of young people. I think I’ve got a stable character and know a lot about property, banking and law which these days are many of the things that can burden young people’s lives. I feel that supporting CSV’s scheme by giving my time is better than simply throwing financial donations at charities. You don’t always know how well the money is spent.”

Rita, aged 54, is a receptionist for an animal charity in London. She is looking forward to the start of her placement with 19 year old Marina who is attending a local college.  “I think it's a good idea putting together younger and older people - hopefully, as an older person, I'll bring a level of calmness to situations; I'm probably less shock-able these days.  It'll be interesting to draw on our differences and I'm certain I'll be learning just as much from Marina as she will from me."
Gamze, who is a student at BSix College in Hackney, is one of the first young people to take part in CSV’s Grandmentors programme. She is studying Level 3 Health & Social Care and is interested in studying criminal psychology. Gamze thinks that an older mentor will help provide some focus.
Gamze said: “I get distracted very easily and I need someone to push me. I have an awful problem time-keeping and I need to be pushed. I dropped out last year during my A Levels but I knew I had to return to college and do something with my life.
“I’ve got a big family so there’s always something cropping up, but I need someone who will keep telling me ‘you’re a bright girl, you can do it’. I need someone to keep repeating that. I love my family but you tend to get away with things, but with a mentor who is not your family, you tend to be more honest about the things that will drive me forwards.”

For further media information contact Jason Tanner on 07941 433598 or 020 7812 0038  jtanner@csv.org.uk or Melissa Goss on 020 7812 0037, mgoss@csv.org.uk or 07725 808 052.