PromiseWorks

PROMISEworks is an inspirational Somerset charity that has been supporting vulnerable children and young people across the county since 2017, through volunteer mentoring. Facilitating life enhancing relationships across generations. 

In November 2023, Sue Bill joined the team as the Somerset Coast Area Co-Ordinator, covering West Somerset.

“I am genuinely excited to be working with such a vibrant and creative community in Minehead and the surrounding area, and I look forward to recruiting new volunteer mentors. Since I joined, I have successfully matched 8 new volunteer Mentors in the West Somerset area, however we still need many more,” said Sue. “The initiative mechanisms of PROMISEworks is that although we work collaboratively across the community in the health, social and educational sectors, giving our young people a voice, the volunteer mentors are kept separate from this, allowing them to develop trusted relationships with their young person which can flourish.”

The latest impact report from PROMISEworks, echoes this. After 7.5 months of mentoring, 100% of mentees feel that their mentor is ‘good for them’ and ‘on their side’.  At the end of last year, PROMISEworks’ 4 day in house training, delivered to all potential mentors, became endorsed via the OCN.

“This has been a huge step forward for us,” said Sue. “As it has allowed us to extend our demographic, enticing working age people to join us and expand their CPD profile, growing our volunteer mentors across multi generations.” 

“Anyone can volunteer if you can give 2 hours weekly or fortnightly for a 2-year period. As an Area Co-Ordinator, part of our role is to support each mentor on their mentoring journey through regular support meetings. We also hold activities throughout the year across the county to bring our mentoring community together.”

A PROMISEworks volunteer mentor summed up their experience of mentoring. “It is an honour to be able to offer such a vibrant young person the very simple gifts of appreciation, communication, attention, and consistency! I couldn’t recommend enough.” 

If you would like to find out more about volunteer mentoring, please contact Sue directly at sue.bill@promiseworks.org.uk or visit the website www.promiseworks.org.uk for further information.