Community Mentors
LSC North Yorkshire ESF Objective 3

This project started in November 2004 and will develop and implement a sustainable model for community mentors (accredited) in ten locations across York and North Yorkshire. The community mentors will support both disadvantaged learners back into learning and/or support the development of community businesses and individuals thinking of starting up their own businesses.

The communities taking part in the project are:

• Bedale and surrounding villages
• Middleton Tyas
• Stokesley
• Pateley Bridge
• Skipton
• Worcnet
• Staithes
• Northallerton
• Catterick
• Skelton on Ure
• Leyburn

With 3 months left to run, the Comment project is running along smoothly. We have now recruited all 50 mentors and have trained all but 2.

The mentors have recruited 55 of the 100 mentees needed. This has been done through events held by the project, leaflets and networking in the local communities by mentors.

51 mentors and mentees have enrolled on qualifications, ranging from IT, to counselling to embroidery. 16 of the mentees who have received support have gained a qualification, which is an excellent achievement for them.

In the New Year we will be holding the final 4 events to recruit mentees for the scheme and help them get the support they require before the project comes to a close at the end of March.

As you can see form the numbers above we still have some spaces left for people to be mentored.

You must fulfil the criteria in order to gain support. You must be:

• Between the ages of 19 and 65
• Unemployed, unwaged or working less than 16hrs a week
• Residing in North Yorkshire, preferably in one of the communities above, although do still contact us if you fall outside any of the communities as we may be able to help.

Access the ComMent website