Good news is always very welcome to receive, but of late it seems to have been a little thin on the ground. Fortunately, in my position as West Midlands Regional Chairman for Mosaic, the mentoring initiative run by The Prince’s Trust, I’m never very far from a story that can lighten even the darkest of winter days.
Many such stories were shared at the Princess Badiya Mentor of the Year Awards, one of the most important events in the Mosaic calendar, which took place in Yorkshire recently.
These awards are given in celebration of the hundreds of volunteer mentors who freely donate their time all over the UK to help young people, regardless of their background, culture or gender, to meet their tremendous potential.
The awards were presented by Mosaic’s founding chairman, whom the awards are named after, HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan. Regional winners from all of Mosaic’s programmes were enthusiastically received by an audience of friends and supporters.
Huge congratulations must of course go to all of the winners, but I will admit to feeling particularly proud that the overall champion, Mosaic’s Mentor of the Year, was announced as Nasrin Akhtar. Nasrin is an Ambitious Futures Graduate Trainee in Leadership and Management at Birmingham City University.
Nasrin is an example to us all, having mentored on Mosaic’s Primary School programme in the West Midlands an impressive 12 times. With a humility typical of Mosaic’s mentors, Nasrin said she was sharing the award with all the mentors and pupils that had inspired her.
It’s great to know that there are people like Nasrin, making a huge difference to young people across our region. It’s the kind of work that often doesn’t get publically recognised but it’s vitally important and hugely rewarding.
If anyone reading this is thinking about becoming a mentor, I urge you to contact Mosaic to find out more. I guarantee you’ll find the experience rewarding, and in this, Mosaic’s 10th anniversary year, it will provide you with enough good news to sustain you well into 2018!
If you’re interested in becoming a Mosaic mentor, visit www.mosaicnetwork.co.uk, email mosaic@princes-trust.org.uk or call 0203 828 9620
