Mosaic is delighted to announce Marcia Reid as our Hero of the Month for July 2016.

Marcia has been mentoring for three years on Mosaic’s primary and secondary school programmes at Cherry Orchard Primary, City Road Primary, Chilwell Croft Academy and Handsworth Wood Girls Academy.

We asked Marcia about her mentoring experiences with Mosaic.

What motivated you to want to become a mentor?

It was an opportunity to give something back, whilst at the same time helping young people to recognise the potential within them. It was also an opportunity for me to develop my skills in mentoring.

Please tell us about a particular rewarding or special experience you have had as a mentor.

As a mentor it has been rewarding to see confidence blossom in the young girls and their mothers at the end of the programme. The transformation has been amazing, from individuals who were shy and self-conscious to individuals who became confident in standing in front of the class and speaking assertively about a particular subject.

What have you learned from your time as a mentor?

I have learnt as a mentor you need to have patience and understanding and to be able to develop trust with the mentees. Only once trust and understanding has been established do I feel that a mentor can move forward in helping the mentees realises the potential within them.

What have you found challenging about mentoring?

The most challenging thing I’ve found about mentoring has been getting through to the secondary school pupils who didn’t want to be on the programme. However, perseverance prevailed and I was able to start seeing a shift in their attitude as we approached the end of the programme.

And what do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I work fulltime for Birmingham City Council managing ‘The Child Employment Team’. My team is responsible for providing opportunities to children and young people below school leaving age who wishes to work part time or take part in performances or modelling assignments. Whilst we provide these opportunities our aim is to ensure the children and young people are not exploited in any way and their health and education will not suffer.

I also run an Events Management business, which provides opportunities for individuals to gain on the job work experience in organising and managing events.

What makes a good mentor?

I believe a good mentor is someone who is committed to see young people achieve their full potential. Someone who is patient but can also be firm when necessary and to be able to help encourage the young person to believe in themselves and believe that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.

How do you feel about receiving the Hero of the Month Award?

I am delighted and humbled. It is lovely that I have been able to make an impact on others to the point that it is felt by others that I warrant this award.

If there was only one piece of advice you could give to a young person to achieve success, what would that be?

There is learning in every disappointment, so if at first you don’t’ succeed, don’t give up; try and try again.