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Creative Mentor Jilly Evans brings us the next instalment of our Creative Mentors’ training blog.

Anna and Matt were unlucky enough to get COVID, so Craig stepped in and taught us all about safeguarding, as always there is so much to learn. Talking about ‘disclosures’ reminded me of knitting/stitching workshops I’d run and how conversation seems to flow more easily when we’re all engaged in creative activity. Whilst all the safeguarding training is vital, I was glad to be reminded that our role is to work on the development of the child.

Craig gave us an example of how a disclosure might happen by playing the part of a young person whose Dad, Mr Pineapple, was clearly not a very nice individual. We had to note down key points from the disclosure, as well as listening. I realised that I also need to make notes to ensure I capture all the relevant information as it’s crucial to have all the facts.

Craig gave us a top tip, some confidential documents such as a contact information form cannot be taken home, they need to be kept securely in a locked container, but your car can be a locked container, who knew!

The following week Matt and Anna, recovered from COVID, taught us all about coaching, goal setting and active listening. We started the session by sitting, closing our eyes and grounding ourselves in the space. It felt good to sit in the space and become present, to forget about the mad dash that I find myself in every weekday morning to get to work/the studio/ Mentor training anywhere near on time.

We had all been asked to think about a goal or two to share with the group, these included a novel to be written, paintings to be created and studio spaces to be ‘rationalised’ (a fancy word for having a clear out – that was one of mine). In the afternoon we all paired up. Amy and I took turns in being the active listener/coach and the person being coached, swapping roles every few minutes when the timer went off. It felt like we were really getting somewhere and maybe, just maybe my studio may be ‘rationalised’ next year!

Jilly Evans

The Southampton Cultural Education Partnership’s (SCEP) objective is to develop a cohort of Creative Mentors as local role models in Southampton, who will work directly with and inspire Children and Young People, including those from at risk, marginalised backgrounds or NEET (not in employment education or training).