Civil society peer mentoring

We’re running a pilot mentoring project across the North West region of England aimed at leaders and senior managers of civil society organisations.

Voluntary Sector North West are our official voluntary sector partner, alongside Yorkshire Bank and Co-operative Bank (part of the Co-operative Financial Services) who are our official business partners.

We’re inviting applications from people who wish to take part, either as mentors or mentees.

What is the Civil Society Leaders Peer Mentoring Project?

The current climate is a challenging one, particularly for the voluntary sector. Cuts to funding; changes to the way funding is accessed; increasing demands on services; providing more for less. These all present challenges to the leaders and managers across the civil society.

The Office for Civil Society, in its consultation on improving support for frontline civil society organisations (Supporting a Stronger Civil Society, Cabinet Office, October 2010) wants to encourage access to wider sources of support by “encouraging better connections between small organisations and skilled volunteers or mentors from business or larger charities”.

Peer mentoring is one of the ways in which these connections can be made. This project provides a unique way for leaders and senior managers within the civil society to tap into the knowledge, skills and expertise of other peer and business leaders. It also offers unique development opportunities for those who take on mentor roles.

What is mentoring?

Mentoring is a voluntary one-to-one, helping relationship between a mentor and a mentee, established to help the mentee through a collaborative learning partnership.

For this project a mentor is someone who is outside the mentee’s direct line of reporting and offers a spectrum of learning and supportive behaviours, from challenging, critical friend to positive role model.  A mentee is someone who wants to personally grow and develop.

Mentors can be both business and civil society leaders, mentees are civil society leaders.

What benefits will I get from being involved?

For the mentees:

• Increased confidence and competence
• Exposure to new ideas and approaches
• Transfer of experience, knowledge and skills
• Increased motivation and focus
• Improved business understanding

For the mentors:

• Increased communication and team skills
• Exposure to different sectors and experiences
• Ability to empower other people
• Skills to enhance career development

What do I have to do next?

Initial application:

Complete an application form if you are interested in applying to be a mentor or mentee. The application forms will be used for the basis of the matching.

Preparation and training:

Mentors and mentees will be expected to attend a half day information/training day to prepare for their respective roles. This will provide an opportunity for all participants to state their commitment to the project. All materials and resources will be provided by MBF. There will be a small amount of funding available for those who need to be reimbursed for travel to these events.

Matching and first meeting:

This will be based on the skill; knowledge or specific issue that the mentee wants to focus on. The information provided on the application forms will be used to inform the matching process. Once the match has been determined you will set up your first meeting. You will both manage the relationship in terms of times and locations for your meetings.

What will the commitment be?

This is initially a six month project. The number of meetings will depend on the specific issues or areas of development identified by the mentee and mentor. However it is expected that there will be a minimum of six meetings. The meetings can take place face to face or by telephone. It is also expected that participants will attend a mid-review session.

Apply to become a mentor:

Are you a leader or senior manager in a civil society organisation or business within the North West? Have you got skills, knowledge and experience that would benefit a senior manager or leader operating in the voluntary sector? Are you looking for a personal development opportunity? Why not apply to be a mentor?

Complete the mentor application form here

Read more about becoming a mentor here

Apply to get a mentor:

Are you a leader or senior manager in a civil society organisation in the North West? Are you faced with a specific issue at work? Do you want to tap into a specific skill or knowledge area? Are you looking for new ways to meet the challenges of the current climate? Why not apply to be matched with a mentor?

Complete the mentee application form here

Read more about becoming a mentee here

Supporters:

“Corporate Banking is proud and excited to be involved in the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation peer mentoring programme. It provides our Corporate Managers with a unique opportunity to use their wealth of knowledge and experience to support and develop leaders of third sector organisations. It also provides a unique environment for mutual self development, of which we are fully supportive. As an organisation we are committed to developing social responsibility and this scheme fits very well with our core values.”

Corporate Banking, the Co-operative Bank, part of the Co-operative financial services

“Being involved with the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation gives Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank employees a real opportunity to give something back to their local communities – something that is very much at the heart of the way the Bank does business. The opportunities that the Foundation puts forward, allow staff to have a positive impact on the lives of others, while at the same time providing development opportunities and improving morale among those who volunteer their time.”

Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank

“I am supporting and offering my time to this initiative as I have benefitted hugely from engaging in mentor programmes in the past. I believe this is a great way for us to support and nurture leaders in the sector to develop personally and professionally at a time when strong leadership has never been more important.”

Richard Caulfield, chief executive, Voluntary Sector North West

Further information and contact details:

Contact: Val Barritt

Call: 07932 453511

Email: val.barritt@mandbf.org

 

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