East Lancashire Masonic Charity

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More Support for The Bolton Lads and Girls Club

he Bolton Lads and Girls Club have received a donation of £5,000 [see the 2nd photograph below] from the East Lancashire Masonic Charities Community Fund [ELMC] to help train further Mentors on the very important Mentoring Project which has been running since 1997.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club Building

This project plays a vital role in helping young people between the ages of 8 and 21, and who experience a wide range of problems to set personal goals for their future and to reach those goals with the support of a caring volunteer Mentor.

Whilst The Bolton Lads and Girls Club have eight full-time workers on this project and over 120 volunteers, many more are still required.

Mentors who are recruited on to the programme receive appropriate training. They are matched to a Mentee to provide a one-to-one supporting relationship as well as help them to make important decisions regarding their education, receiving appropriate training and gaining employment. Having someone in their lives who is always there for them can be the first step to making changes in their lives.

Young people join the project voluntarily and agree to be linked to a volunteer Mentor for a period of up to 12 months. In April 2004 the Club was awarded Gold Star Status by the Home Office. It is the only North West Project to receive this and one of eight nationally.

Volunteering with the project can also enhance a Mentor's life in many different ways - an avenue into youth/ social work, meeting new people, or the satisfaction of helping a young person through a difficult time in their life.

Bolton Lads and Girls Club Presentation

The people featured at the presentation of the £5,000 cheque are from left to right: -

Terry Kakoullis Bolton District Charity Steward -Vicky Corlett, Training & Development Manager Lads & Girls Club - Philip Mountford, Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Bolton & Bury - Karen Edwards, Mentoring Project Manager Lads & Girls Club, and - Ian Thornton, Bolton District Chairman

The main tasks of the Mentor role include: -

• Creating a positive supportive relationship between mentor and the young person by adopting a non judgemental approach

• Initiating and maintaining appropriate relationships with young people

• Meeting with the Mentee on a weekly basis

• Attending regular supervision/ support meetings with the project worker

• Undertaking initial core training and optional ongoing training

• Attending social activities, group work sessions and optional residential weekends during the programme, and

• Trying to maintain weekly contact with the project worker

So far East Lancashire Freemasons have donated at total of over £7,500 towards the Mentoring project. However, this is not all they have contributed.

Twelve months ago the Provincial Grand Master who is a keen supporter of this project, expressed the wish to see Freemasons, their families and friends play an active role by becoming Mentors, and he hoped that within 12 months, six mentors could be trained and matched with Mentees.

The response has exceeded his expectations. So far nine Freemasons have been trained and matched with Mentees. One non mason is in training, and four application forms are with Freemasons who have expressed a serious interest in this project.

This is a wonderful achievement in the first year - but more Mentor's are still required.

Therefore, if any Freemason, their family members or indeed friends are interested in becoming Mentors they should contact WBro Terry Kakoullis, the Bolton District Charity Steward on 07710 025932, or by email at terrykakoullis@btinternet.com