The mentoring scheme as part of project Enabler has been launched at the Bulmershe School in Woodley. This particular school was identified because it is representative of the challenges faced by Muslim children in East Reading.

The scheme is visualized as a community based learning programme that aims to engage and empower children in a positive and enabling environment. It is hoped that the support and role model provided by the mentors would help the children become active and integrated citizens of a multicultural society.

Moreover, it presents a valuable opportunity for young members of the community to make their contribution to society as mentors. Many of our mentors are past students of the school and have the background knowledge and an existing relationship with staff at Bulmershe.

A group of 12 mentors have already successfully completed their NCFE certificate in Mentoring Young People at Reading College. They are fully equipped to carry the project and the vision of Imaad further. The first meetings have taken place between mentor and mentees which saw the successful matching of needs with skills. As part of Enabler, Imaad will be offering tuition to students on the mentoring scheme to help them with their academic work.

At present, we are in the process of interviewing possible tutors and hope to start running sessions in the next few weeks. These sessions will be run at Bulmershe School after school hours. The objective is to keep the tuition groups cohesive enough to achieve maximum benefit for the students. The tuition will be provided in the core curriculum subjects of Maths, English and Science.

The next step is to recruit another batch of mentors to enrich and enlarge this project. Please come forward to become part of this vision. For further information, please contact info@imaad.org.