#GivingTuesday gives back to the community

ProjectScotland, the charity that helps young people get on in life through volunteering, is encouraging people in Edinburgh to sign up to be a volunteer mentor and give back to their community this #GivingTuesday.

A global day of giving, #GivingTuesday encourages people to give their time, money or voice to a charity on 2 December 2014.

ProjectScotland offers 16 – 30 year olds a full-time, three month volunteering opportunity, allowing them to learn new skills and gain valuable experience while giving back to society. ProjectScotland matches young people with charities working in areas such as the Arts, Sports, Youth Work and Animal Care, or to departments within charities such as Marketing, Human Resources, Fundraising and Events.

Upon signing up to become a volunteer, candidates are offered a mentor who works with them to help them get the most from their experience. Mentors are given the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young people, whilst receiving training and support from a committed team at ProjectScotland.

Over  125 volunteer mentors are currently working with the charity to help coach a young person and support them throughout their volunteer experience.

Tahnee Downie attributes a great deal of her current professional confidence to her mentor Julie-Anne Jamieson, saying: “She was there for me in a way that was entirely separate to the support I got through the Travelling Gallery and ProjectScotland. She listened to my concerns about my career, and helped me plan for my future.”

When asked about her experience as a mentor Julie-Anne Jamieson said: “I love it because I meet such interesting and talented young people who are so enthusiastic; it really inspires me during my day-to-day work.”

ProjectScotland currently has 46 exciting opportunities across Edinburgh, from a Childcare Assistant with SmileChildCare to a PR and Events Champion with the Blackwood Foundation.

Through ProjectScotland charities can benefit from the additional manpower, talents and energy which volunteers provide, while local communities benefit from the volunteers’ help.

As well as being offered a mentor ProjectScotland volunteers receive a travel allowance and are invited to a series of job-focussed workshops designed to help them plan for the future.

You can apply to become a ProjectScotland mentor online at: www.projectscotland.co.uk/mentors