Emma is seven years old and is waiting for a female mentor who can help her build confidence, try new experiences and, most importantly, have someone she can rely on.
Emma has experienced a great deal of change in her young life. Having lost both of her parents at a young age, she now lives with her grandma. The bereavements she has experienced, alongside changes to her living arrangements and financial hardship, have left Emma facing challenges that no child should have to navigate alone.
Emma can sometimes find it difficult to talk about how she is feeling and often bottles things up. She can also struggle with friendships at school and often finds it easier to spend time with adults. At home, she can feel lonely as her grandmother’s health means they are not able to get out and about as much as they would like.
Emma is a bright and energetic seven-year-old with lots of interests and a real sense of adventure. She loves being outdoors, roller skating, dressing up and getting creative with arts and crafts. She has told us that she would love to visit different parks, go swimming, try ice skating, spend time at the beach and even go horse riding.
She would particularly love a mentor who could help her learn to swim, as it’s something she doesn’t know how to do yet.
For Emma, having a female mentor could mean having someone who gives her time, listens to her and encourages her to try things she might not otherwise get the chance to experience.
Together, Emma and her mentor could set child-led goals based around the things Emma wants to achieve and explore. Whether that’s learning to swim, trying a new activity or simply feeling more confident in herself, her mentor would be there to encourage her, celebrate her progress and help her recognise what she is capable of.
A regular, positive relationship with a trusted adult could help Emma build her confidence, develop her social skills and discover new interests, while giving her something to look forward to each month too.
Emma is just one of the children currently waiting for a female volunteer mentor. Could you be the trusted adult who helps a child like Emma discover what they’re capable of? If you would like to learn more about how you could help Emma, please reach out to our team at o.polak@befriendachild.org.uk today.