Press Release

Prime Minister salutes mentoring and befriending "heroes"

Tuesday, August 5 2008

Teenage mentors working with older people to help with their computer skills, grandparents going back to school to help youngsters in need of special support – these are two examples of the intergenerational mentoring and befriending work praised by Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Mr. Brown met with volunteers from ten projects recommended by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF), the national strategic organisation which sets standards of best practice and provides support and resources for projects and practitioners in England.

Andrew Gardner (17) and Asish Aryal (18) were among the mentors and befrienders  the Prime Minister's 24/7 "Everyday Heroes" celebration at No. 10 Downing Street.

Both give their spare time to work as intergenerational mentors with Sixty Plus in the Kensington and Chelsea area of London.  The young volunteers have been helping two ladies – one a long-term carer and the other made housebound by failing health – with their computer problems.

One lady said although she was computer competent the processes were very long-winded. Asish had helped her to use the computer which she found to be a great source of entertainment.

Asish said: "I feel very positive knowing that I helped to make her life very much easier with her computer.

Andrew said: "Being a computer mentor has definitely made a positive difference to me.  Not only have I discovered I can do things that I didn’t think I could do before, but it is really satisfying when I see that what I have taught is being used and makes her life much easier."

Andrew's mentee described him as a "delightful young man" and a pleasure to have in her home.  He had been very patient and she would love to see him again in the future.

Andrew said: "Meeting Gordon Brown himself was nerve racking but just a wonderful experience." He added it was great to see that all the things that were done in the community were appreciated.

Asish commented: "I think the event was a wonderful opportunity to meet other volunteers and to see how volunteering has changed our society."

The Prime Minister spoke with high regard for the "unsung local heroes" involved in social action “when and wherever it takes place. I want to use 24/7 as a day to say thank you to all those who work so tirelessly for social change. We don't report enough on the good things that people do – the volunteers we have in so many areas."

The work of the older person in mentoring young people and thus making a huge contribution towards bridging the generation gap,  was also recognised.

Peter Hope (66) and Trevor Williams (78) are part of a team of mentors who give support to children in Years Five and Six in local primary schools and going through transition to secondary school. Both volunteer for Kingston Upon Thames Age Concern Learning Mentor Project.

The two mentors said the experience of helping young children facing difficulties with school life and learning was "worthwhile and very rewarding."  Putting something back into the community had “opened up another world," they said.

Another volunteer who met with the Prime Minister was Geoff Capper, an intergenerational mentor with the Bolton Lads and Girls Club in Lancashire. The 64-year-old said he was thrilled to be invited to attend and proud of his work with young people in the Bolton area.  

MBF says it is encouraging to see more and more people across the generations supporting each other through mentoring or befriending programmes.

For case studies and pictures please contact Trevor Green, Public Relations Officer  on 0161 787 8600 or  07767 654076 or trevor.green@mandbf.org.uk