Lifespace

Lifespace - an initiative of Heartlands Church in the Stratford-upon-Avon district - has mentored over 350 vulnerable young people across Warwickshire in the 3 years since it began, many of whom have been at risk of social exclusion. With funding from the Department of Health as well as other local funding groups, Lifespace volunteer mentors enable young people to develop their life skills and self worth, as well as be supported through a range of challenging issues such as self-harm, parental divorce, unhealthy conflict, and underachievement. Lifespace has achieved a national award known as the Approved Provider Standard from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation for the quality of its work, and has recently been short listed for a national award by Faithworks and Spurgeon’s Network. Lifespace actively works with a dozen secondary schools and agencies including Connexions and Stratford Parenting Project. 'Young people keep telling us that having a mentor is helping make their lives easier, their relationships better, their choices healthier and their sense of self worth stronger', says Chris Spriggs, Project Co-ordinator, ‘being a mentor is challenging but it is also very rewarding. When a young person shakes your hand, looks you in the eye firmly and says ‘Thank you for listening’ then you know your time and energy has been well invested.' If you would like to find out more then why not visit www.lifespace.org.uk or call Chris on 01789 297400.