Pioneering Mentoring Programme Empowers Young Volunteers

A groundbreaking mentoring initiative has reached its grand finale in Harehills, connecting young volunteers with leading professionals in the tech and digital sectors to inspire and guide them towards brighter futures.

The programme, delivered by social value specialist Ahead Partnership, paired 16-19-year-olds from youth empowerment charity CATCH Leeds with mentors from major employers, including AND Digital, First Bus West Yorkshire, and Aire Logic. Designed to support young people outside mainstream education, the scheme aimed to unlock new opportunities and demonstrate the potential of their volunteer-acquired skills.

Faron Convey, Project Manager at Ahead Partnership and Volunteer at CATCH, said, “This collaboration has allowed us to reach young people through channels outside of mainstream schooling, including those less represented in key sectors, who might see significant impact in their future prospects through this type of guidance.

“Collaboration such as this highlights the best of our region; an investment into our young people is an investment into our future as a city, and we look forward to seeing where the impact of this work might reach within Harehills and beyond.”

The programme forms part of Ahead Partnership’s Growing Talent Digital Leeds initiative, which aims to connect underrepresented groups with opportunities in tech and digital careers. Over two months, participants worked closely with mentors in one-to-one sessions, exploring topics like future planning, skills development, and goal setting.

Young participants shared how the experience helped build their confidence and creativity. One mentee said, “When I started, I wasn’t that confident and I would be shy to speak in front of people, but with time, I’ve got more confident, and it means I can secure my goals in the future.”

Another added, “It taught me how to be creative and how to get something beautiful out of what seems like a random connection. It made me realise that you can reach your goals even if you’re starting from the bottom.”

Mentors also praised the programme, with one noting, “The thing that sprung out to me is friendship, and how that’s developed between my mentees and myself. It’s brought out the best in the place that we’re all part of: they’re like my neighbours.”

Jen Wilkins, Operations Manager at CATCH, said, “At CATCH, we encourage people to find strength through outreach, to give back to their community in order to grow. It has been fantastic to see communities coming together, with particular support from Ahead Partnership, in recognition of the dedication our young volunteers show, and to offer them the guidance and tools needed to put their best foot forward.”

The initiative has highlighted the potential of collaboration between organisations like Ahead Partnership and CATCH in empowering young people to build brighter futures. To learn more, visit Ahead Partnership or CATCH Leeds.

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