What training does a COACH Volunteer Mentor need?

What training will I need?

COACH Community Mentoring provides two days of initial training which covers some of the following modules:-

•The Coaching Relationship
•Building a Trusting Relationship
•Relating & Engaging
•Goal Setting & Empowerment
•Values, Confidentiality & Boundaries
•Basic Communication Skills
•Working with Children
•Family Conflict
•Depression & Mental Health

Training sessions are normally made up of around a dozen prospective mentors. There are no written tests or role play, but these are interactive sessions which include working in small groups. Training is free and you get to keep the comprehensive Training Manual.

What Families say about CAP

"After becoming involved with CAP I could go shopping without fear of rejection at the cash register. I felt as if I had lost 100kg and won the lottery. Since then things have kept on getting better and better."

Owen & Fleur, Sydney

"I was amazwd to hear that all of my debts would be cleared in just a year and a half! CAP got me back on the straight and narrow, woke me up and brought me back to reality."

Margaret, Newcastle

"The most important lesson we have learnt through the CAP programme, is that debt doesn't define us as people. Our support worker has armed us with practical skills to live again through a budget programme."
Murray & Kelly, Brisbane

"Having my life and finances under control again is positively fantastic and I couldn't have done it without Christians Against Poverty. I am very happy to say that I am now debt free."

Lynette, Newcastle

What Families say about COACH Community Mentoring

…from a COACH Client

“They walk in, they never judge.

That is the brilliance of it and it is brilliant, the non-judgemental feeling you get with them no matter if you have done right or wrong, you are there to be accepted.

For a lot of people that have never been accepted before, that is a phenomenal gift.”

“We’re not lonely anymore”

Family – What does that word mean to you? 

"To me it means love, support and friendship".

Lonely – What does that word mean to you? 

"To me it means abandonment, hopelessness and fear of the unknown".

“…Parenting is hard, and even harder when you have no support, but honestly (and I know Laura will deny this) she has lifted our spirits and helped us become more solid as a family. It is amazing how much difference one person can make. Thanks C.O.A.C.H., “We’re not lonely anymore.”

What commitment does a COACH Mentor need?

Once you are matched with a family, there is generally a commitment of two hours per week for a period of twelve months. There are variations on this because all families and circumstances are different. But it is best to be prepared for a long term relationship because the families get so much from this.

We also arrange a ‘Working with Children Check’ and a ‘Police Check’ for all our volunteer Mentors.

Contact us today and be the change you want to see in our community.

What support does a COACH Volunteer Mentor receive?

A COACH Volunteer Mentor receives the following support:-

You will have the support of the COACH Coordinator with regular monthly meetings to discuss progress with your family and your personal development. Or more frequent meetings if necessary.

There is also on-going ‘top-up’ training every quarter when the COACH Mentors come together. This also provides an opportunity to encourage and support each other.

What skills do COACH Family Mentors need?

COACH family mentors need:-

•an experience of life
•an ability to work as part of a team
•an understanding of the pressures facing parents today
•and a genuine interest in supporting families in the community
•able to demonstrate God’s love

Being a volunteer can be hard work, but it is also rewarding, giving many chances for personal development and the chance to give something back to your local community.

Working as a COACH Mentor makes you feel valued and allows you to discover skills you didn't know you had.

Meet a whole range of people that you would otherwise not meet. It can provide you with a whole experience and richness that you wouldn't get otherwise.

How can a COACH Mentor help a family?

Without volunteer mentors, the COACH Family Mentoring scheme could not function and both families and children wouldn't get the support they need.

A COACH Family Mentor is a “friend with a purpose”, an encourager, and a listening ear. A family mentor is trained to work with a family helping them to achieve the changes they want to make in their lives - and can assist with:-

•family relationships
•parenting
•budgeting
•finding a job
•managing health issues
•life goals
•links to services
•connecting with the community

COACH Community Mentoring - Objectives

COACH has been set up, as an early intervention resource, to deliver mentoring services to meet the identified needs of vulnerable and socially excluded families in our community to achieve the following objectives:-

•To deliver a long term mentoring service to families to assist in - life skills, parenting skills, finance management; goal setting and encouragement to complete other adult education or vocational courses.

•Families suffering from the impact of social exclusion will be able to improve their prospects and build social participation in their local communities.

•Families will be able, through the COACH mentoring program, to build skills based on their strengths, to plan for the future.