Talentspejderne

Founded in 2010, Talentspejderne is a non-profit association based in Randers C, Denmark working on children & youth, education, employment & skills.

Landsforeningen Talentspejderne is a voluntary, non-political and non-religious humanitarian association based in Denmark. It runs a mentoring programme in which certified volunteer mentors, often employees of local businesses or retired people, meet young people for 24 weekly sessions of about 90 minutes to help them discover and develop their talents, learning styles and character strengths. The target groups are schoolchildren aged 12-15 in grades 7 to 9 and young people aged 16-25 who are not yet ready for education or work. The programme aims to build self-esteem and motivation so that young people move into education and employment. The national association works through a national secretariat, which signs partnership agreements with municipalities and schools and supports local associations in Randers, Hedensted and Kerteminde. Volunteers must hold a clean criminal record and child-protection certificate and complete a one-day certification course. Funding comes from foundations, corporate sponsors, municipal payments for completed mentoring courses, and business membership fees. The association was founded in 2010 on the initiative of Tom Thinggaard Pedersen.