…or someone like you for our next team of volunteer mentors. We are now recruiting for team 25 who we hope to have in training in June (dates to be published later) with a view to getting them matched up with the young people on our waiting list before the summer holidays. SMASH offers one of the most rewarding volunteer experiences available in Swindon and you get to work with some of the nicest people I know. mentors and young people get involved in sport, the arts, community work, business or just meet up each week and have a cup of coffee and a chat. You don’t need any special skills, just a bit of life experience and a willingness to give up 2 or 3 hours a week to help someone who’s struggling to make the transition to adulthood so if you are a person or you know someone who is, download a volunteer application pack now. We and that pointy guy in the poster (general Kitchener I think) are waiting to hear from you.

Or turn out your closets and donate your salable goodies to the cause. We’re looking for designer clothes, tech and household items that will sell for at least £10 so that ill fitting Vercace or the Van Gough in the attic, bring ‘em in and we can put them to good use.

Team 24 are with us at last.

They are Charlene, Charlotte, David, Paula, Rebecca, Rebecca, Rob, Victoria and Michael. We hope to be training a larger team in the spring but with our waiting list at almost record levels it seemed crazy to keep 10 willing volunteers waiting. They’ll be meeting some of our young people on Wednesday 20th January and will be matched up soon after that. Good luck gang, we all hope you have an enjoyable and productive year ahead.

Dear All

I am writing to you on behalf of The SMASH Youth Project (Swindon Mentoring and Self Help) which is a charity that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged young people form the age of 13 to 19 years old

As a recently appointed trustee and a mentor of six years and currently mentoring mentee number 8, I am writing to you for some much needed help.

We are currently mentoring young people in Swindon and have a current batch of mentors and mentees of 26 active relationships with a further 35 young people waiting to be mentored with an ever increasing list of referrals. We have 10 new volunteers going into training in January. To support and continue training new mentors it costs the project around £1500 per mentor per annum. Our mentors undergo more than 30 hours of training in their first year with us and along with travel and incidental expenses like playing sport, getting involved in the arts in some way or maybe just going out for a cup of coffee and a chat with their young person the costs can mount up. We also offer regular supervision and a 24 hr emergency help line to our mentors and all of that costs money too. In fact we estimate that it costs about £1,500 per year to support a SMASH mentor.

I understand the current economic climate is still difficult and money is tight not just for businesses but for everyone and would like to ask if you are able to help in a small way by sponsoring a mentor. We are looking for individuals, companies or other organisations who will be willing to sponsor a mentor over the course of the coming year. That could cost as little as £20 or as much as £1,500 per mentor depending on your budget but it is vital that we find the funds to continue this incredible important work. Without the support of the community SMASH simply can not continue to do what it does.

Please would you give this your consideration, as these young people will be the future and could well be either an employee in your company or a consumer of your products or services.

If you are in a position to help we would be more than happy to come and make a presentation to your business and you will have the chance to meet some of the team and some of the people you will be helping.

Please find enclosed information about the project and we look forward to hearing from you in due course.

Yours sincerely

Paul Brown Trustee
For SMASH Youth Project

To sponsor a mentor please contact SMASH or download the sponsor form below
Sponsor a mentor

Melissa Butler presenting a cheque for £140 that she raised by climbing Ben Nevis with her family including  her dad Norman, who has been a stalwart fundraiser for SMASH for several years now. Great to see her following in the Norman’s not inconsiderable footprints. Thanks Melissa!

Here are some of the SMASH gang, with Katie from Swindon Dance.

They are Heidi, Tammy, Mica and Jemma.

Not appearing here are Sophie and Hayley, who also took part. All ably assisted by our very own Carrie.

Great stuff gang! sorry about the terrible camera work.