Le Chéile Mentoring and Youth Justice Support Services have seen their Board of Management expanding with the recent appointment of Richard McElwee to the position of Director.
Le Chéile works with vulnerable young people throughout Ireland that have offended or are at risk of offending, as well as their parents, by matching them with a volunteer mentor.
Often, these are young people that have led difficult or chaotic lives, therefore, the support of a mentor and the ethos of ‘One Good Adult’ can really make a difference in their lives.
Richard is currently Legal Counsel and Communications Manager at Rugby Players Ireland, the representative body for professional rugby players in the country.
Having attained a Masters in International Relations from UCD, Richard proceeded to study Law and was called to the Bar of Ireland in 2013.
It was during this time that he first came into contact with some of the country’s top athletes and brands, leading him to his current position.
His election to the Board of Le Chéile was based on his expertise, the valuable contribution it was felt he could bring to the organisation and his demonstrable commitment to making a difference.
In his own words, Richard is very much looking forward to the future. “I anticipate that my appointment to the Board of Le Chéile will be fulfilling on a number of levels. Already I have been exposed to a passionate group of people who want to positively influence society.
“Furthermore, becoming a Board member has presented me with the opportunity to develop my own experience, skills and competencies on both a personal and professional level.
“But most importantly, while Le Chéile has been making an impact since it was established in 2005, I recognised that there was significant potential for growth in the organisation. I was therefore keen to get involved and play my part in that evolution,” he said.
Hailing from Mountmellick in Co. Laois, Richard has been keen to advocate the role of Mentor since his appointment and to promote the volunteering opportunity to anyone that might be interested in getting involved.
Le Chéile runs a designated mentoring project in the Midlands, which provides mentoring to young people and parents across Laois, Offaly and Kildare.
At present, they are recruiting for new volunteers in these areas that would like to work with young people as Youth Mentors.
In speaking about mentoring, Richard said that “I’m very aware that much of what I have achieved would not have been possible without the support of those around me.
However, I also recognise that not everybody has the same strength of support around them. Le Chéile’s model of mentoring provides vulnerable young people and their parents with the opportunity to reflect and grow, safe in the knowledge that they are not being judged.
We all have the capacity to make positive change but sometimes we need a helping hand to kick it into gear,” Richard concluded.
For anyone interested in finding out more about Le Chéile and becoming a volunteer mentor, visit here for more information.
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