Education Volunteer - Mosaic

Review: Education Mentor (Mosaic Programme) - The King's Trust

The King's Trust, formerly The Prince's Trust, is embarking on an exciting new chapter, and they are seeking passionate individuals to join them as Education Mentors for their impactful Mosaic Programme. This volunteer opportunity offers a unique chance to make a tangible difference in the lives of young people aged 15-18 in Wales, based from their Cardiff hub.

Advantages for Potential Candidates:

• Meaningful Impact: As an Education Mentor, you will directly contribute to shaping the future of young people by helping them develop confidence, essential skills, and crucial employability prospects. This is a chance to be a positive role model and inspire aspiration.
• Personal & Professional Development: The role provides excellent opportunities to grow your communication, presentation, leadership, and facilitation skills. The comprehensive training provided, including online modules and face-to-face sessions, will equip you with the necessary tools.
• Community Engagement & Wellbeing: Volunteering is recognized as a key contributor to wellbeing, and this role allows you to strengthen your connections within your local community and build valuable networks.
• Structured Support: You will not be alone in this journey. The King's Trust provides dedicated support through their Youth Development Leads, who will guide you through training, planning, and programme delivery.
• Flexibility & Variety: While requiring a commitment of at least two years, the session times and frequency are often led by partner schools, offering some flexibility. The role involves engaging, interactive sessions with a structured menu of topics, with the option to contribute your own ideas.
• Inclusive & Supportive Environment: The King's Trust is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. They actively support various employee networks and are a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.
• Workplace Experience: The programme includes arranging visits to local workplaces, offering both mentors and young people exposure to the professional world.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Commitment: This opportunity requires a minimum commitment of two years. It is crucial to ensure your availability aligns with the programme's needs, as consistent attendance at sessions is vital for building rapport with the young people.
• Location: The role is based in Wales, with a central hub in Cardiff. While session locations might vary depending on partner organisations, understanding the geographical scope is important.
• Safeguarding: Given the direct work with young people aged 15-18, an Enhanced Disclosure Check is mandatory. The King's Trust prioritizes safeguarding, and candidates must share this commitment. It's important to note that having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants, and all applications are assessed on an individual basis.
• Proactive Engagement: While a structured session menu is provided, mentors are expected to prepare for sessions, which may involve planning content or reviewing fellow mentors' plans. Organised and proactive individuals will excel in this role.
• Role Modelling: The core of this role is to inspire and empower young people. Candidates should feel comfortable and confident in their ability to role model positive socio-emotional and employability skills, and to facilitate engaging group activities and discussions.
• Passion for Young People: While no formal education background is required, a genuine passion for working with and developing young people, coupled with empathy and active listening skills, is essential.

Career Path Guidance:

For individuals looking to enhance their leadership and mentoring capabilities, this role offers a robust platform. The experience gained in facilitating groups, developing training materials, and understanding youth development can be invaluable for those pursuing careers in education, youth work, human resources, or any field that involves guiding and developing others. It's an excellent opportunity to build a strong volunteer portfolio and demonstrate a commitment to social impact, which is highly regarded by many employers.