Raise Foundation is looking for new volunteers, and they can be anyone of any age with a working with children clearance, who wants to make a positive contribution to the community.

Ofunneka Anyanwu, from Raise, said volunteers can be retired, parenting at home, studying, have flexible working hours, or be an interested community member of any age.

“Volunteer mentors don’t need to be teachers or experts to be a mentor, you just need to be a good listener, and be able to act as a sounding board for a young person’s ideas and aspirations.

“An older persons skills and life experience can make a real difference to a young person in the local community, and it only takes a couple of hours a week, a positive outlook, and a genuinely compassionate interest in young people,” she said.

Last year 16 children from Years 9 to 12 in Bathurst participated in the program, joining over 1,000 students across Australia, including kids in Melbourne, the ACT, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

Ms Anyanwu said it’s amazing the difference a positive role model can have in the lives of young people.

“It’s not a counselling role, but rather just being there to help them with homework, or if they have issues with social skills, you’re just there to support them,” she said.

Raise Foundation provides their volunteers with a free accredited  TAFE training course in mentoring skills.

Once trained, mentors volunteer for two hours a week with a young person on school premises, during school hours from February to October.

Raise Program Director, Carol Sandiford says Raise mentor training teaches valuable skills which include mentoring, active listening and adolescent development.

“These are highly transferable skills which are not only used when volunteering but also with your own families and in your workplace.

“Our mentors make a very tangible difference in the lives of struggling young people.”

Nicki Halliwell, program manager with Headspace, who partnered with raise to bring the program to Bathurst, said the union was a great partnership.

People interested in being a mentor can contact mentor@raise.org.au for more information and to register for training.

The mentor training date is Wednesday March 15, at Bathurst TAFE, from 9.30am until 4.30pm.