Recruiting new mentors for YMCA Plusone Mentoring Program

– MONCTON, NB, Aug. 11, 2021 – Do you want to be a role-model for youth and help them overcome challenges in everyday life?

If you answered yes, the YMCA of Greater Moncton has just the program for you!

We are looking to recruit new mentors for our YMCA Plusone Mentoring Program. Just two hours of your time each week could make a huge difference in the life of a youth who needs a little guidance to reach their full potential.

The YMCA Plusone Mentoring program is based on an established early intervention model that helps engage and equip young people to overcome the challenges they face. Participants are matched with mentors who are specially trained to work with youth.

Mentors give young people positive role models and encourage them to gradually decrease their risky behaviours and pursue their aspirations. This one-year relationship provides youth with the support they need to achieve their full potential.

The Plusone program is run out of both YMCA of Greater Moncton locations and just recently completed a five-year pilot through federal funding. The pilot went very well with numerous matches and many success stories.

How the program works is youth are referred by other community organizations based on risk factors and need for support. Then, program facilitators work to match the youth with a volunteer mentor.

At this point in time, there is a long waitlist of youth in need of a mentor and this is where new volunteers come in.

“The program need in the community is evident based on the waitlist of youth,” said Hannah LaPointe, YMCA Plusone Mentoring Support Worker at the YMCA of Greater Moncton. “We’ve actually had to close referrals to the program.  This is why we desperately need more volunteer mentors.”

LaPointe said there has been a decrease in volunteer applications during the COVID-19 pandemic and this means youth aren’t getting a chance to participate in the program. She said when a mentor gives their name to volunteer, they are matched with a youth mentee based on similar interests.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering with the Plusone Program can contact LaPointe at : 506-381-3598 or by email:  hannah.lapointe@ymcamoncton.ca.

Click the link below to hear a full radio interview on Q103 with details on the Plusone Program.