Kinship Care

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In June 2022, YMCA Edinburgh were successful in their bid to secure funding to expand their mentoring programmes.

Our intandem programme which supports young people who are looked after at home, and Plusone for those at risk of offending have already proved a great success but through partnership meetings, a need was identified for a mentoring service supporting young people aged 8-14 in Kinship Care Placements within Edinburgh.

Literature and policy recognises the positive impact that Kinship Care placements can have on a young person in comparison to other settings. Benefits include:

• Ability to remain within the family network
• Better stability – less chance of losing school, friends etc
• Increased chance of remaining with siblings (when compared to Foster care or residential care).
• Positive improvements in mental health and behaviour
• Preservation of cultural identity and community connections

The project aims to focus on the wellbeing of each child who is matched with their mentor. The focus of mentoring will be on supporting the development of each young person, by identifying their strengths, setting goals and providing support to deal with difficult circumstances in their lives.

Becoming a mentor
As a mentor you will undergo training and be matched with a young person referred to the project. The role of a volunteer mentor includes regularly meeting with the young person, typically one a week for a couple of hours, taking part in activities, acting as a positive role model and a listening ear. The meets are arranged between the mentor and young person, but usually occurs out of school hours. We require volunteers to make a commitment of a minimum of 1 year. Regular support is provided through supervision with the project coordinator, as well as being provided with the opportunity to meet with other volunteers through training events, peer support nights and social events.