What is CMS?
The Charnwood Mentoring Scheme (CMS) has been set up as part of a joint venture between Charnwood 20:20 and the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership. Its aim is to create a 'professional friendship' between mentors and a disengaged young person and the project has the backing of Charnwood Borough Council and the Local Area Police.
The mentoring scheme pairs approved volunteer mentors taken from various professions and places in Charnwood, with identified at-risk/convicted young offenders. Given recognised training and support, the pairs spend five hours a month in a year-long mentoring relationship. Mentors offer guidance, support, and advice, sign-posting and help to their mentee as they seek to achieve their goals - in education, employment and personal and social development.
The scheme was established to help facilitate the community to work together in bringing about positive change. The desire is to allow young people to see a great future for themselves, as they see their lives as worthwhile, positive and full of potential and possibility. It challenges and enlivens each person that is on it - whether mentor or mentee, as the community learns about its self and grows in relationship and purpose.
Praise for CMS
Cllr Sandie Forrest, Charnwood Borough Council's Cabinet member for Community Safety and chairperson of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, said:
"Being a mentor is a hugely beneficial role to undertake, both for personal development and community impact. We're looking for people who are willing to give their time to become a mentor to a young person - a role that requires effort, reliability and firm commitment.
"Mentors offer guidance, support and advice to their young person as they seek to achieve their goals in education, employment and personal and social development."
Wendy Brown, Charnwood Borough Council's Anti-Social Behaviour Officer, added:
"The mentoring scheme involves local voluntary agencies with a strong commitment to community cohesion. It will assist us to deliver alternatives to enforcement action which is, of course, of considerable benefit to the young person."
Andy Cook, the Charnwood Mentoring Scheme Co-ordinator, said the project was a "fantastic display of a community working together". He added that:
"The scheme provides young people with an opportunity to gain help, encouragement and support from local mentors that are committed and enthusiastic towards making a significant difference to the life of another.
"It will draw those young people who are on the fringes of the community into being active citizens as new and purposeful friendships are born.
"The need for committed and focused mentors is undoubted as their input into a young life can open up windows of opportunity and choice that have not been realised before.
"It will be a challenging process for all concerned. However, the rewards will far outweigh the costs as the changes to lives across the town will be visibly seen."
Our projects
