Mirrors needs 100 volunteers to coach for success

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20: The Mirrors Programme is looking for 100 volunteers to mentor schoolchildren and help them to attain their goals.

The Coaching for Success programme has been hailed as a huge success since its launch last year.

Now organizers are looking for the next batch of coaches to provide support for children from Whitney Institute and Sandys Middle School.

Budget cuts have prevented Mirrors from broadening the pilot scheme to cover other middle schools.

Goals

But staff are still hopeful they will be able to roll out the Coaching for Success programme across the island next year.

Until then they are looking for volunteers to act as ‘education mentors’ or coaches between October 2011 and June 2012.

Jeanene Todd, acting assistant programme co-ordinator told the Bermuda Sun the programme aimed to help students aged 10 to 13 stay focused on their studies.

She said: “It’s about the young people setting goals for themselves.

“Last year we had just over 20 coaches at each school and some teachers helped out too.

“This meant that some of the coaches had to double up.

“We would really like to get 50 coaches for each school for this year.

“The programme was a great success and we have had a lot of positive feedback.

“Budget cuts meant we could only do the programme in two schools — but both schools have been very supportive.

“We are looking for funding from the private sector too.

“The cutbacks will not stop us trying to achieve what we want to.

“We would have liked to have done more schools this coming year — but given our budget constraints we have had to just stick with the two.

“We hope that by 2012/13 we will have the Coaching for Success programme running in all five middle schools.”

Coaches are expected to meet with their assigned students weekly, either before school, during the lunch hour or after class.

Antoine Minors, a coach for the pilot programme, said he found the experience rewarding and fulfilling.

The 28-year-old Government storeskeeper said: “I was looking for an opportunity to get involved with the community and heard about the Coaching for Success programme.

“I wanted to help someone because I have a son who is nine years old and if I was not able to be there for him I would want someone else to be.

“It just made sense to me and it was not hard to give up a little bit of time each week to help a student.

“I eventually ended up working with three different pupils during my time as a coach and developed a strong bond with them.

“It was a rewarding experience and also a challenge.

“I hope that what I tried to do will have an effect on these children and help them move forward.”

Commitment

Kerry Judd, volunteer enrolment manager, said: “We are looking for people who are committed to seeing young people achieve their goals.

“Our coaches cover every demographic of society, which is what makes the Mirrors Programme so effective.

“Coaches have to be over-21 and complete a two-and-a-half-day training course.

“After that it’s about being there for the young person and engaging with him or her.

“If we don’t have the volunteers we cannot run the programme — it’s as simple as that.”

Anyone wanting to find out more about being a volunteer should call Ms Judd on 294-9297 or e-mail [email protected]