Karen is a volunteer with Grandmentors. She was drawn to the project whilst navigating the ever changing role of being mum to two teenage sons on the brink of flying the nest. Karen could see her boys still needed their mum as a source of advice and guidance and felt compassion for those young people who did not have such support . Finding she had more free time as her boys grew up, she signed up to Volunteering Matters and found Grandmentors. She has been mentoring an unaccompanied asylum seeker for the past 12 months, supporting them as they turned 18, left foster care and began to live independently. She has built a positive relationship with the young person, where the mentee feels comfortable to talk about their worries and needs. Karen sees a really positive change in the young adult over the last year and they are now flourishing; enjoying both academic, personal and social success.
A former primary school teacher, Karen’s experience as a Grandmentor led her towards a new career working for Warwickshire County Council’s Migration team where she now supports migrants and refugees into employment and training.
