Rite to Shine: Saul

Saul, one of our up-and-coming mentors at only age 20, took a walk down to the WorkingRite office in Glasgow where we the chance to speak with him about his interesting journey, successes and personal development over the years. Like many, Saul didn’t know what direction to take in life, his time in school didn’t go according to plan. He felt like he wasn’t receiving the support he deserved and that his needs weren’t being met. Three and a half years ago he was introduced to WorkingRite taking on training, learning new personal development and life skills that will stay with him.

What was your experience at school like?

It wasn’t good, in school I didn’t get supported I needed. I didn’t go that much because I was struggling with it, I didn’t enjoy it. I was struggling with the work.

If there is anything you could have changed or any support, you could’ve received what would you ask for?

More time for me to try and explain that I didn’t understand the work and maybe more time as well how I actually felt in school, I felt like I didn’t have the chance to at all. I got told not to come back.

And how long have you known about WorkingRite?

I first got introduced to WorkingRite for three and a half years ago.

What was it like coming through WorkingRite? Tell us more about your experience and how it was different to your experience in school.

So much better, everyone I met was really welcoming, I was able to talk to people much easier. They explained everything that was going to happen, I had a chance to think and to prepare myself, the support I got was so much better which I didn’t get in school.

I was able to contact Maureen [head of WorkingRite’s Placement Programme] and other people within the charity quite a lot of the time if I had problems. [Referring to his On Your Side Mentor] We would have catch ups in places and talk, just with that it helped so much with planning and understanding what was coming up.

At the start I got put into a painting and decorating apprenticeship, I was in that for a year and a half, but I found it just wasn’t for me. It was really good work experience and the painting has helped me for life, I know how to paint and decorate and fix problems. Because of the confidence that I got from that, I was able to build myself up to apply for other jobs.

You’re in the process of training to become a volunteer mentor with our On Your Side programme. What are you looking forward to most about becoming a mentor?

Working with people and seeing the progress – being able to help them plan and help them realise that everything’s not as intense as they think it’s going to be. I am excited to become a mentor because it’s something different for me as well, I like going through all the training modules – it’s going to help me in the future, that I’ve got the mentoring as an experience as well.

Do you feel like you have more insight and understanding of On Your Side because you came through WorkingRite as a trainee, as well as having a mentor of your own?

Definitely. I had a mentor as well, and a lot of the time when I was with them it felt like I was just there with someone I knew. Because of that experience, I now know how to build up relationships with people and understand and adapt to whatever their needs are.

What made you want to become a mentor?

I know what it’s like not having support and I know the feeling of not being able to go to anybody or that I feel there’s no one to go to. I feel like I know fully what that’s like and that I’m good at understanding people.
It worked for me, so I know that it does work for other people, and I want to prove it. A lot of older people they feel like younger people just don’t care and just want to mess about, so I feel like it’s good to show people that a lot of young people aren’t just here to mess about and want to make a good impact.

What impact do you think WorkingRite and mentors have on young people coming through the programmes?

They definitely make you feel comfortable. They are amazing at explaining what’s going to happen throughout the whole journey, and are really good at adapting to situations. Anytime they end up setting goals with people it works.

What advice you would give to other young people?

Everything takes time; don’t give up.

What is something you wish you were told before entering the workforce; a piece of advice you wish you had before, or something you wish someone had said?

That you can get support to achieve your goals and that it doesn’t need to be intense or uncomfortable.

What do you think WorkingRite will achieve in the coming years?

I feel like it’s just going to keep getting bigger and bigger – hopefully in different places as well like more places in Scotland and even outside of Scotland. I can imagine it being in so many different places.

In your opinion, what makes WorkingRite shine?

They definitely make you feel comfortable. They are amazing at explaining what’s going to happen throughout the whole journey, and are really good at adapting to situations. Anytime they end up setting goals with people it works.
I feel like it is one of the best charities you could go for help as a young person.

Saul is now training to become a qualified personal trainer while also pursuing an interest in social media. He has been passed the torch from his mentor Caz, and is now training to be a mentor himself, equipped with insight and compassion. He wants to give the youth like him the options, opportunities to set goals and skills he wished he had sooner.