Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire
The Bolton Lads and Girls Club

Bolton Lads & Girls Club Awards Night

Each year the Bolton Lads and Girls Club hold a Mentoring Awards Ceremony to pay tribute to the achievements made by Mentors, Mentees and the team who organize the project. This years event was held on 8th February 2007.


The top table pay close attention to Karen Edwards, the Mentoring Project Manager

This years event was held in February at The Holiday Inn, Bolton. The guests of honour this year included WBro Philip Mountford the Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Bolton and Bury Districts. Other guests included The Mayor of Bolton: The Mayoress; Mr Bernard Knight, Chief Executive of Bolton Council, Mrs Deborah Dunleavy, prospective Conservative candidate for Bolton North East and Mrs Emma Warburton, Mentor and representing Ross Warburton, President of Bolton Lads and Girls Club. It was particularly pleasing to see a “Head of Freemasonry” portrayed in the same light as other leaders in the local community.

The event was hosted by Karen Edwards, Mentoring Project Manager ably assisted by 12 year old Mentee Keiran Stewart who is an ambassador for the project and was splendidly kitted out in a morning suit. He read out the names of the Mentors, Mentees and organizers who received certificates.

WBro Philip Mountford was invited to present some of the certificates along with the other invited guests. A number of the Mentors including some of the Freemasons spoke about their experiences and perhaps most significantly some of the Mentees spoke about their experiences. It was wonderful to learn that the Mentees had written their own speeches and each one must have felt a great sense of self achievement in doing so.

The evening was attended by over 400 people. The room was very full and frequently echoed to the cheers of Mentees and their families celebrating the achievement of the loved ones and friends. It was a privilege to be present at this event and if anyone wants to know the value of this Mentoring Project, just attend one of these Award Ceremonies and feel the atmosphere. You will come away inspired and wanting to be part of this wonderful project.

Bolton and Bury Masons after receiving their Mentor certificates. From left to right:

Back row:-  Bob Collins ( Mentor ),  Phil Mountford APGM, Terry Kakoullis (Bolton District Charity Steward and Mentor )

Middle row:- Joe Banks ( Mentor ) , Simon Jones ( Mentor ) and Paul Sellars ( Mentor )

Front row:-  Alan Hilton ( Mentor ) and Paul Newton
( Mentor )

 

 

Phil Mountford with Vicky Corlett, the Training Manager.

 

 

 

 

 

More Support for The Bolton Lads and Girls Club

The Bolton Lads and Girls Club have received a donation of £5,000 [see photo below] from the East Lancashire Masonic Charities Community Fund [ELMC] to help train further Mentors on the very important Mentoring Project which has been running since 1997.

This project plays a vital role in helping young people between the ages of 8 and 21, and who experience a wide range of problems to set personal goals for their future and to reach those goals with the support of a caring volunteer Mentor.

Whilst The Bolton Lads and Girls Club have eight full-time workers on this project and over 120 volunteers, many more are still required.

Mentors who are recruited on to the programme receive appropriate training. They are matched to a Mentee to provide a one-to-one supporting relationship as well as help them to make important decisions regarding their education, receiving appropriate training and gaining employment. Having someone in their lives who is always there for them can be the first step to making changes in their lives.

Young people join the project voluntarily and agree to be linked to a volunteer Mentor for a period of up to 12 months. In April 2004 the Club was awarded Gold Star Status by the Home Office. It is the only North West Project to receive this and one of eight nationally.

Volunteering with the project can also enhance a Mentor's life in many different ways – an avenue into youth/social work, meeting new people, or the satisfaction of helping a young person through a difficult time in their life.

The people featured at the presentation of the £5,000 cheque, on 15th December 2006, are from left to right: -

Terry Kakoullis Bolton District Charity Steward -Vicky Corlett, Training & Development Manager Lads & Girls Club - Philip Mountford, Assistant Provincial Grand Master for Bolton & Bury - Karen Edwards, Mentoring Project Manager Lads & Girls Club, and - Ian Thornton, Bolton District Chairman

The main tasks of the Mentor role include: -

•  Creating a positive supportive relationship between mentor and the young person by adopting a non judgemental approach

•  Initiating and maintaining appropriate relationships with young people

•  Meeting with the Mentee on a weekly basis

•  Attending regular supervision/ support meetings with the project worker

•  Undertaking initial core training and optional ongoing training

•  Attending social activities, group work sessions and optional residential weekends during the programme, and

•  Trying to maintain weekly contact with the project worker

So far East Lancashire Freemasons have donated at total of over £7,500 towards the Mentoring project. However, this is not all they have contributed.

Twelve months ago the Provincial Grand Master who is a keen supporter of this project, expressed the wish to see Freemasons, their families and friends play an active role by becoming Mentors, and he hoped that within 12 months, six mentors could be trained and matched with Mentees.

The response has exceeded his expectations. So far nine Freemasons have been trained and matched with Mentees. One non mason is in training, and four application forms are with Freemasons who have expressed a serious interest in this project.

This is a wonderful achievement in the first year - but more Mentor's are still required.

Therefore, if any Freemason, their family members or indeed friends are interested in becoming Mentors they should contact WBro Terry Kakoullis, the Bolton District Charity Steward on 07710 025932, or by email at terrykakoullis@btinternet.com

Support for the Mentoring Project at the Bolton Lads and Girls Club

On Thursday 11th May 2006, the Provincial Grand Master Bro Paul James Ernest Rink OBE visited the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, Spa Road , Bolton to present a cheque for £2,500. He was accompanied by The Assistant Provincial Grand Master for the Bolton & Bury Districts, WBro Philip Mountford and the Bolton District Chairman WBro Ian Thornton.

The sum of £2500 was made up of £1000 from the Provincial Grand Master's Discretionary Fund and £1500 raised by Masons from Bolton , Bury, Horwich and their friends.

The money is to help train mentors at the club who support some of the most vulnerable young people in the Bolton area who are at crisis point and have very little positive contact with adults.

The Mentoring Project began in 1997 after it was realised that many young people attending youth clubs were experiencing a wide range of complex issues. The project aims to link young people on a one to one basis with a volunteer mentor who will provide support and guidance at a time when it is most needed. Having someone build a trusting positive relationship with a caring adult can be the first step to making changes in their lives. The impact can be enormous.

The project is a structured mentoring, education and recreation programme designed to help young people set goals for their future, and reach these goals with the support of caring volunteer mentors. The project is available to young people between the ages of 8 and 21 who are experiencing a wide range of problems. Young people join the project voluntarily and agree to be linked with a mentor for a period of up to 12 months

Mentors are recruited to provide a one to one supporting relationship for youngsters helping them to make appropriate decisions concerning education, training and employment. They do not have to have particular skills or qualifications. Instead, emphasis is placed on life experiences. Mentors need to be committed, reliable and be able to befriend young people. They each receive ongoing support, training and development.

The Bolton Lads and Girls Club now has 8 full time workers and 120 volunteer mentors but more are still needed. The Provincial Grand Master is keen that Masons, their families and friends, consider becoming mentors in this very worthwhile and immensely satisfying project. Although over 150 young people aged 8 – 21 are seeing their mentor regularly. There is currently a substantial number of young people for whom volunteer mentors are required.

Seven Freemasons have so far been recruited and have undergone mentoring training. Three further applications have been issued.

Those mentors who have been matched with a young person are doing very well in engaging with their mentee and the following is a brief synopsis of the issues currently being dealt with.

Paul is currently matched with a young person of 13, who is having issues with his behaviour and temper. He is dyslexic, which causes him frustration. Paul's mentee does not have a male role model in his life.

Terry's first mentee had behavioural problems resulting from his family life and he used his time to involve him in group activities such as ten pin bowling and paint balling. His second mentee was a 14 year old boy who had issues around school attendance, having little direction in his life and a lack of structure. He was also at risk of offending Terry worked with him and found he had an interest in climbing and using the climbing wall at the Lads and Girls club to develop this interest.

Geoff is matched with a 14 year old boy who attends a school for children with behavioural problems. His parents also have issues with alcohol dependency. He is keen on working on his behaviour and Geoff has engaged well with him, bringing him to \the Lads & Girls Club to take part in various activities. Geoff has completed his mentor training and is receiving training in drug and alcohol awareness.

Alan mentee is also 14 and has a poor attendance at school. He has had many different agencies working with him, and tends to suffer from low self esteem and confidence. He can be quite challenging, but has engaged well with Alan, and the relationship seem to be working well. Parents also have issues with alcohol dependency and Alan's mentee acts as a carer for mum, he rarely gets out of the house to engage in activities. Alan is now addressing this issue. Alan is also undergoing additional training on drug and alcohol awareness.

Recently the Annual Mentoring Awards ceremony was held to pay tribute to the achievements made by mentors, mentees and the team of staff who organise and support the project and to present a certificate of participation and achievement to the mentees.

The Lads and Girls Club mentoring project is part of the Provincial Grand Master's Care in the Community vision and one third of all monies raised for East Lancashire Masonic Charities are going to be placed in his newly formed Community fund from which monies will be made available to help other community projects in the Province.

If any brother, their family members or friends are interested in becoming mentors they should contact WBro Terry Kakoullis, the Bolton District Charity Steward on 07710 025932 or by email on terrykakoullis@btinternet.com

Presentation: From left to right.

Standing
Jeremy Glover, Chief Executive Bolton Lads and Girls Club.
Philip Mountford APGM Bolton & Bury Districts.
Ian Thornton, Bolton District Chairman.
Vicky Corlett (leaning forward), Training Manager – Mentoring Project.
Terry Kakoullis, Bolton District Charity Steward.
Karen Edwards, Manager – Mentoring Project.
Geoff Capper, Mentor
Alan Hilton, Mentor

Sitting
Paul James Ernest Rink, O.B.E. Provincial Grand Master for Province of East Lancashire.
Amy Nice and Gemma Stec - Mentees

 

 

 

From left to right
Karen Edwards,
Gemma Stec,
Amy Nice,
Paul Rink,
Terry Kakoullis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left to right
Alan Hilton,
Ian Thornton,
Philip Mountford,
Vicky Corlett,
Karen Edwards,
Amy Nice

 

 

 

 


From Peter Manning Bolton District Communications Officer,
Tel: 01204 849706
E.mail: co.bolton@elmasons.org.uk