The organisers of schemes in North Yorkshire which help young people reach their full potential are looking for more volunteers.
Such is the success of both the Independent Visitor project and Buddy Network scheme, that more people are required to help deliver the services across the county.
The schemes are administered by us and operated by North Yorkshire Youth, a charity set up by Lady Crathorne in the grounds of the family home, Crathorne Hall, back in 1941.
Originally called the North Riding Association of Youth Clubs, North Yorkshire Youth is the modern face of that work with its aim being to help young people realise their potential through various support services.
Volunteers with the Independent Visitor scheme befriend young people in local authority care, get to know them and enjoy activities together once a month for a minimum of two years.
This can include anything from going for a walk, talking over a coffee, trying a new sport or visiting parks and museums.
The Buddy Network scheme, meanwhile, is designed to help and support young people as they reach the end of existing support. Participants meet volunteers for an hour on a regular basis to chat and offer help and advice. This takes place in the community for about six months.
The schemes have been judged a great success, with those taking part talking about how they have brought stability to their lives, introduced positive role models and have enabled them to look to the future with positivity.
Ian Carman, who lives in Boroughbridge, is a volunteer with the Independent Visitor scheme.
He said: “I joined the Army aged 16. I had a tough life growing up and the Army became my family.
“I have a great belief that everyone knows right and wrong but that they maybe need a bit of guidance along the way to help them make the right choices.
“Being the father of two boys, now aged 31 and 26, I have experienced lots of issues with young people and felt I could put that to good use.”
Ian learned a lot from his first involvement with the service.
“This was very new to me but turned out to be rewarding for both parties,” he said. “I enrolled on some free courses set up by North Yorkshire Youth to help me and learned very quickly to allow the young person to talk about their interests before I got them to concentrate on what we were working on.
“It was apparent very quickly that he was happy that I was interested in him and what he was doing. I now use this approach in all my buddy contacts of which there have been five or six over the years.
“As well as helping them, I have also gained a wealth of knowledge from Pokémon to book illustration and latest social media trends, so I also feel rewarded.”
Fellow volunteer Jim Mazza lives between Harrogate and York.
Jim said: “An independent visitor isn't there to get involved in the social care of the child. The role of the independent visitor is to be the family figure that once a month takes the young person for a day out to have fun.
“March marked the third anniversary of my first visit with my young person. When we met recently, we had quite a chat about it. It was remarkable how much detail he remembered.
“Initially, I was nervous, and he was apprehensive and really didn't want to do it. But we both quite enjoyed it, and he was willing to meet up a second time, so the rest is history. He said that we just 'clicked' straightway.”
Jim said the relationship had now developed into one of trust and mutual respect.
He said: “These are children who through no fault of their own find themselves in circumstances outside their control. Not only do they face the challenges that every other child faces, but they have the additional complication of not being part of what most people would view as a normal family environment and don’t receive the support that goes with it.
“The boy I support has had hurdles to overcome and still does to this day. I have not had a single instance where I have had to question his behaviour and have only ever been treated with politeness and respect. In addition, he has opened my eyes to what it's like to be him by relating his experiences.”
Executive member for children and families, Cllr Janet Sanderson, said: “Young people require role models like Ian and Jim, especially those who may have faced difficulties in their lives growing up.
“These two schemes provide a vital service, and I would encourage anyone with time to spare and who would like to make a difference to a young person’s life to consider becoming a volunteer.
“There are rewards for all those involved, but the main one is knowing that you have helped set a young person on a positive pathway.”
Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to volunteer for either the Independent Visitor or the Buddy Network schemes.
Volunteers do not need formal qualifications but do need to be able to relate well to children. North Yorkshire Youth provides mandatory training along with further opportunities for development for anyone taking part.
Anyone who would like to volunteer for either the Independent Visitor scheme or the Buddy Network can contact Stef Benson on 07398 149496 or email stef@nyy.org.uk.
Details on the schemes are available on visit the North Yorkshire Youth website.