Mentoring

Info for people with SCI

"It was important to me to have a positive role model in someone who had been through such a trying time herself.  I looked forward to her calls and took great comfort in her reassurance that there will be light at the end of the tunnel."  (Service user, age 35)

Mentoring is a great opportunity to recieve some regular input from a trained spinal cord injured peer mentor.  Our accredited service can introduce you to someone with personal experience of adjusting positively to living with a spinal cord injury.  We'll match you with a mentor whose life experiences are relevant for you.

If you feel that you could benefit from our mentoring service please have a look at our Mentoring Handbook and contact Eric in the office on 0208 875 6728.

 

"Mentoring helped changed my attitude - I don't let things stand in my way any more"

Darren Heaton, 42, sustained an L1 complete spinal cord injury in 2003 in a fall. He said:

"After being discharged home I spent most of my time doing hardly anything.  I didn’t like going out because I didn’t like people seeing me have spasms in public and staring at me. I ended up not going out, just staying at home and surfing the internet.

"I originally registered with Back-Up in 2007 after finding out about them whilst surfing the internet.  However, it wasn’t until 2009, whilst feeling really low, that I got in touch again and I was offered the mentoring service.

"My first impression of my mentor was that he was a genuinely good bloke.  We were in touch weekly over the phone and via email. I got to know what life has been like for him and he was able to help me break down what I saw as problems into smaller parts to tackle. The first problem we looked at was how to finance buying the powerchair I needed as this had prevented me from having the confidence to go out. It took 3 months but with his support, I eventually got the funding I needed.

"My mentor inspired me with his honesty. I realised that no one is going to help me achieve the things I want to unless I try myself. He helped change my attitude - mentoring was basically the kick up the backside I needed.  I’ve gone from being a sulky git with no get-up-and-go to being quite bloody minded and determined. I don’t tend to let things stand in my way anymore.

"Since being mentored I’ve regained my confidence. I’ve been out and about on peak national park trails, I’ve been to the local pub for the first time since my injury and joined a local gym. I’m a bit better with my partner and children and I’ve been up and down in the garden with my granddaughter too.

"In September I’ve organised a fundraiser challenge  called Bertie Bear’s Walk for Injured Heroes in which I’ll be covering 200 miles with a team from High Peaks to London in my powerchair. The event will raise money for the Grenadier Guards as my sons have been serving in Afghanistan. I wasn’t even this adventurous before my injury!"

 

Info for relatives

We appreciate that those affected by the imapct of spinal cord injury (SCI) extends beyond people that have sustained an injury.  SCI can be devastating for family and friends too. 

 

If you're a relative or friend and would like someone to talk to the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) have a telephone and face to face counselling service specifically for you.  To make an appointment please call 07563 732 391 and speak to Lucy Bolton (Family Counsellor)

At Back-Up we are currently developing a formal service to support relatives and will bring news of what that will look like in Autumn 2010.

Would you like to volunteer as a mentor?

Being a mentor is not about telling people how to live their lives.  It is about understanding individual problems and being able to find a common ground that can be used in a positive light.

"If sharing something as difficult as what I’ve been through can help someone else, then it wasn’t all for nothing. The feeling I get from mentoring people is better than anything you could experience with a nine to five job." Mentor

"Becoming a mentor has been a completely positive experience. The realisation that I have the ability to make a difference to somebody’s life is quite overwhelming. Whilst I understand [mentoring] is primarily a scheme to enhance a newly injured person’s perceptions to their capabilities, it has provided an equally rewarding and enlightening experience for me too.” Mentor

If you feel that your experiences could benefit others and would like to make a difference by volunteering as a mentor please read our Mentor Role & Responsibilities document and give Eric (Mentoring Manager) a call in the office on 0208 875 6728 or email for more information.

 

Back-Up’s mentoring scheme is accredited by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation. The Approved Provider Standard is a national award supported by the Cabinet Office and Department for Children, Schools and Families and is a badge of competence and safe practice in mentoring or befriending. Thanks to Harris Cartier Solicitors for their generous support which makes the programme possible. 

To find out more about how Harris Cartier could help you win financial compensation click here