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17 July 2009

MBF charity reception listed by Number 10 in annual schedule

Sarah Brown hosts event to celebrate success of mentoring or befriending

Mentor and mentee at No 10
 Over 130 volunteers, service users and practitioners from approved provider mentoring and befriending programmes were recognised at a special evening reception hosted by Sarah Brown at 10 Downing Street on 10th March 2009.

Over 40 programmes that work closely with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation were chosen to attend this prestigious event.  Individuals were recognised for their contribution and engagement within mentoring and befriending. 

Welcoming everyone Sarah Brown said:

“I am particularly pleased to be here tonight to see the width and breadth of mentoring and befriending activity that is taking place across England.  I am personally involved with a children’s charity that offers grants to mentoring projects working with young people.  I can see the real benefits of effective one to one relationships to support people in their time of need”.

Other officials such as Rt Hon Ed Balls, Rt Hon Hazel Blears and numerous other policy representatives from DCSF and the Office of the Third Sector attended and heard first hand the impact that mentoring and befriending is having on individuals lives. 

Many sectors were represented including young and old people, refugees and asylum seekers, mental health and learning difficulties.   Cathy Laird from Farlingaye High school commented:

“The event itself was something special for both the students and myself and for the school it was great to have our mentoring work recognised.  It was also a brilliant opportunity to meet others involved and speak to people from different areas, but we all found common ground in our belief that mentoring matters”.

Peter Collins, outgoing Chief Executive of the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation, also thanked everyone who had supported him over the last 15 years and wished Steve Matthews his replacement every success for the next 15 years. 

The Mentoring and Befriending Foundation will continue to raise the profile of mentoring and befriending and hopes to hold similar events to celebrate the successes of the sector in the future.

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