Grandmentors programme wins National Mentoring Award

Volunteering Matter’s Grandmentors programme won a prestigious national award recognising its transformational work in mentoring young care leavers.

The Grandmentors programme received the honour in the Third Sector category at the recent National Mentoring Awards, in recognition of the 1:1 support that Grandmentors provide young people leaving care. One of the key areas that impressed judges was the ‘soft matching events’ – empowering young people to take more charge in their lives, starting with meeting and then choosing their Grandmentors at these informal matching sessions.

Mentee, Cole, who picked up the award with his mentor, attested to the scheme’s transformative effect, saying: “This project has taught me that you never know what you can overcome until you’ve overcome it.”

Grandmentors founder Lord Freud, said: “This honour recognises the impact that Grandmentors plays in enabling young care leavers to have the confidence to meet life’s challenges.”

Head of National Programmes at Volunteering Matters, Gethyn Williams, said, “This award is an extremely proud moment for everyone involved in Grandmentors.  It shows that by receiving bespoke personal support mentees from around the country can achieve their goals.”

Volunteering Matters recruits, trains and supports volunteer mentors, aged over 50, who use their skills and experience to provide bespoke mentoring for young people leaving care during their transition into adulthood and independence. No special skills or qualifications are needed for this voluntary role, just life experiences as well as a willingness to support someone who is need of a bit of help, for two hours a week. The programme is part of Volunteering Matters’ charitable work addressing social isolation which is generously supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

To find out more about the Grandmentors programme, contact the team at:

GETHYN.WILLIAMS@VOLUNTEERINGMATTERS.ORG.UK