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Mentoring for Children of Prisoners |
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What is the PILLARS Children's Mentoring Programme? The Pillars Children's Mentoring Programme matches screened and trained adult volunteers (mentors) with children and young people aged 5-18 years (mentees), who have a parent in prison. Mentors provide mentees with individualised time and attention on a regular basis. This is typically once a fortnight for two to six hours, with telephone contact weekly.
During their meetings, the mentor and mentee gradually develop a strong relationship and the mentor supports the mentee to manage every day challenges that are part of their “growing up”.
Over time, the mentees gain new skills, explore new interests, gain confidence in themselves and expand their experience base beyond their family and neighbourhood. All children need a positive relationship with a caring adult. This is particularly true of children with parents in prison.
Children of prisoners are particularly vulnerable – forced to deal with the loss of a loved one, the shame and stigma of having a parent in prison and fear about their own futures.
Statistics suggest that these children are six to seven times more likely than their peers to end up in prison themselves without intervention.
Our goal is to provide these children and young people with experiences and relationships that will enhance their development, prevent criminal activities and promote success in education and beyond.
I would like my child to be on the Mentoring Programme. How do I go about this? If you would like your child to be part of the Pillars Children Mentoring Programme, you can contact the Helpline 0508 PILLARS. For your children to be involved you have to be living in Christchurch or South Auckland. It is a further requirement that parent/caregivers receive Homebased Social Work Support.
The mentoring coordinator will arrange a time to meet with you and your child and find out about their strengths, needs and interests. When an appropriate mentor has been found, the mentoring coordinator will discuss this with you. If you agree, the mentoring coordinator will introduce the mentor to you and your child in your own home - and the mentoring begins!
Mentors are at least 18 years of age, have a clean criminal record and have been screened and trained before being accepted into the programme. Once matched with a mentee, mentors receive ongoing supervision, support and training by programme staff. Click here to read our mentor stories.
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