We started working on mentoring in 2002 when we worked with Furniture Matters and Lancaster Youth and Community to set up Pedal Power.
Following set up of Pedal Power Thumbprint's role became to support people with learning difficulties in getting involved in a valid and equal way.
To do this we worked with a volunteer with learning disabilities to support him to act as a mentor for others at Pedal Power. He helped people to understand the work done there.
Working alongside a support worker he worked very pro-actively to encourage people to come down to Pedal Power and get involved with the project. While on the project he helped them to settle in and do their voluntary work. He showed them where things were, what tools and materials to use. He worked alongside them and encouraged them.
The mentor project was very successful. As more projects got going we encouraged other people to get involved as mentors.
Nowadays, mentoring is an important part of the work that Thumbprint does. It works very naturally and builds very positive and mutually supportive relationships. Though it’s probably not the first thing many people would spot about Thumbprint it is definitely one of its most fundamental parts.