Mentoring Vulnerable Children in schools…..

1. Mentoring Vulnerable Children in schools….. Presenter: Christine L Gray Chief Executive Officer The School Volunteer Program Inc.

2. “It takes a village to raise a child!” “Mentors Caring for Young People” “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world” ANON

3. “Role Models are not always Mentors - but Mentors are ALWAYS role models By being Mentors and Role Models to struggling young people SVP Mentors are ultimately making a change to their own lives and that of the children they assist.

4. PROGRAM VISION/PURPOSE • The purpose of the School Volunteer Program is to:- • Utilise the abilities of mainly seniors and retired people to encourage and guide children who are having difficulty coping at school. • Encourage children to achieve their full potential by developing improved life skills, thereby enhancing their quality of life. • Promote the value of seniors, retired people and all volunteers in our community. • Provide further community involvement in our schools.

5. Why there is a NEED for SVP in schools. • Schooling, social and family life has changed quite • dramatically over the last few decades. • Schools and members • of the community are • having to take on • roles which were once • the role of parents • SVP mentors can help • address these needs. “Be the Change you want to see in the world!” Mahatma Gandhi

6. HOW THE PROGRAM OPERATES • Mentors assist during normal school hours. • Commitment is for one hour per week for a minimum of one term. • Assist child on a one-on-one basis out of the classroom. • The school is responsible for the supply of resources. • All mentors must fill in a Confidential Application and have a Working With Children Check performed. • All mentors must wear their identification badges whilst on school grounds.

7. SKILLS REQUIRED No formal qualifications are required as this is not a teaching program. The SVP is an excellent example of people of a different generation passing on encouragement and lifting the self esteem of vulnerable young people by being ROLE MODELS and MENTORS The skills required to be a successful volunteer are: * Patience * Empathy * Life Experience “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust the sails!” ANON

8. VOLUNTEER TRAINING Volunteers who assist attend ongoing training workshops. These workshops include topics such as: • Orientation - confidentiality, commitment, responsibilities. • Drug Awareness • Issues Facing Young People Today • Physical Issues – Sight, Hearing, Speech, etc. • Emotional/Behavioural – Depression, Bullying, ADD, Abuse, etc. • Communication and Listening Skills • Peaceful Solutions - Anger Management • Reading Made Easy; and • Others as the needs arise……..

9. FUNDING Although the Program depends on the contribution from volunteers it also requires substantial funding to cover administration costs. The following organisations provide financial support in WA: • Department of Education and Training • Commonwealth Government (FACS) • HBF Employee Gift via United Way (WA) • Rotary • Lotterywest Similar organisations could assist in other states. Volunteering is very cost effective but….IT COSTS!!!

10. GROWTH OF SVP IN W.A. Since incorporation in 1996 there have been 327 schools and over 3900 mentors involved in the SVP. As at June 2006 operating in 235 WA schools.

11. AWARDS The success of the Program in Western Australia can be gauged by the the numerous awards it has won. Some of these include: • Community Services Industry Awards (2004) - Strengthening Volunteering • WA Seniors Awards (2004) - • Award of Excellence • National Volunteer Awards - • State Winners (2003/2005) • WA Citizen of the Year • Award (2000) - • Gold Swan Award • National Community • Links Awards(2000) - • State Winner • Australian Violence Prevention Awards (1995/96/97)

12. OUTCOMES Teachers do not have the time available to concentrate on the difficulties and problems of each and every student, and welcome the quality time that an SVP volunteer mentor can spend with a child, providing encouragement, guidance and a caring environment.

13. OUTCOMES Not only are the students benefiting from the assistance provided, but the Program also is enhancing the life of seniors and the community as a whole. “We make a living by what we get: we live by what we give!”WINSTON CHURCHILL

14. OUR FUTURE SVP is committed to expanding into every school that needs the service throughout Australia. The School Volunteer Program Inc. was launched as a National Organisation on the 17th September 2004 by the National Patron of SVP, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery, Governor –General of Australia.

15. CURRENT & EMERGING PROGRAMS… • CORE MENTORING: • CAREER MENTORING: • COMPUTER LINKS: • S.A.G. (Sportsfun Across Generations) • S.C.A.M.P (Student/Community Attendance Monitoring Program): • CORPORATE VOLUNTEERING: “I thought someone should do something, then I realised that I was someone!” JOHN F KENNEDY

16. COST TO SVP (As at end of 2005 – 31/12/2005) Expenses totaled: $464,000 • Cost per school (236) = $1,966 • Cost per mentor (2250) = $206 • Cost per student (3000) = $155 (Includes recruiting, training and ongoing support) In 2005, volunteers contributed approx. 200,000 hours to assist vulnerable students in schools. This equates to over $3 million in dollar value. (Based on $15 per hour)

17. The School Volunteer Program strongly believes that…… “Every child has the right to a good education and EVERY member of our community has a role to play as a mentor and role model to ensure that our children receive this education”.

18. “The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of others!” The volunteers in SVP are living proof of this quote as they continue to mentor and….”assist vulnerable children in Australian schools.