As part of the Catholic Parliamentary Internship this year, some of the interns are taking part in the mentoring programme with the Cardinal Hume Centre.
The Cardinal Hume Centre works with homeless young people, badly housed families, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants helping them to obtain employment and break out of the cycle of homelessness and exclusion.
Homelessness was one of Cardinal Hume's priorities both as a diocesan bishop and as a Church leader. Early in his time as Archbishop, he became President of Shelter, and he was also President of the Catholic Housing Aid Society for 23 years. He was actively involved in both supporting and starting many homelessness initiatives in London. He often spoke out on the moral obligation to reduce homelessness, particularly when the problem of street living began to escalate in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The aim of the mentoring programme at the Cardinal Hume Centre is to provide the clients with additional one-to-one support and encouragement in working towards improving their 'employability'. As mentors, we will be helping our client develop aspirations, identify obstacles to progression and help them to set and work towards achievable goals.
We had a training day back in October when we were told what to expect from the scheme. And today I finally met my ‘client’. I will be mentoring a lovely, shy girl from South America who is planning to improve her English and go to college. I will be meeting her once a week over the next few months and helping her turn her life around and eventually to get into university to study Medicine. I am really looking forward to getting to know her and helping her achieve her aspirations.
The Cardinal Hume Centre is always looking for more people to volunteer so click here to find out more about them and how you can help.
Naomi Brandon
Public Affairs Intern at CESEW
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