To mark International Friendship Day, I wanted to reflect on what friendship, connection and showing up for someone can look like through Right There’s Adult Mentoring programme. I joined the programme as a volunteer because I wanted to take part, build new skills and support people in a more personal way. My role at Right There is mainly office-based, so I was keen to spend time with people out in the community and help them work towards the goals that matter to them.

Russell was being supported by one of Right There’s Housing Outreach teams and had really benefited from the help the team provided with his housing needs. As that support was coming to an end, his support worker recognised that Russell would benefit from ongoing, consistent engagement, and referred him internally for adult mentoring support.

The mentoring team matched Russell and me, and mentoring coordinator Josephine came along to our first meeting to help us get to know each other and make sure we both felt comfortable. Russell had shared that he was very anxious about meeting someone new, so taking time to build a connection and help him feel safe and at ease was really important.

Our mentoring sessions are shaped around what Russell needs that week. Sometimes that means helping him navigate a challenge, sometimes it is simply being there to listen over a cup of tea and cake, and sometimes we watch an episode of Taggart – Russell’s favourite!

Russell’s longer-term goals include building his health and wellbeing, so we sometimes take our mentoring sessions outdoors and explore Kirkintilloch and the surrounding areas. Russell is even hoping we can manage a few walks around the local lochs in the future. I can see how much he gets from the mentoring, especially when he waves me off after each visit with a smile.

One of the unexpected joys of mentoring has been the chance to connect across different generations and learn from each other’s experiences. Russell and I are at different stages in life, but mentoring has shown me how much common ground we share. Spending time together has helped build understanding, challenge assumptions and create a relationship based on trust and respect. On International Friendship Day, it feels like a lovely reminder that friendship can take many forms, and sometimes begins simply by making time for someone and being there consistently.

For me, I feel lucky to be able to support someone as they work towards their goals. There is real satisfaction in knowing I am making even a small difference in Russell’s life, just as he has made a difference in mine. I have learned a lot from him, and it has been lovely to see his confidence grow. Mentoring has been a really rewarding experience, and a reminder that friendship, trust and connection can grow in everyday moments – over a walk, a chat, or a cup of tea. I am looking forward to continuing to develop our mentoring relationship throughout the year.