Funding Information and Advice Service Mentoring Scheme

The mentoring scheme provides an opportunity for priority groups to link with individuals who want to share their skills and experience in a volunteer capacity. The scheme seeks to place a volunteer with an organisation to support them in achieving a specific organisational development objective.

The scheme aims to link fifteen priority voluntary or community organisations in Bromley with the twelve volunteer mentors this year, to provide additional support, aid development and funding sustainability.

photo of CLB's certificate This highly successful scheme grew from a pilot project begun in 2007 and in the same year was recognised by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundations when it was awarded the Approved Provider status.

CLB’s mentoring scheme featured in Mentoring and Befriending Foundation’s quarterly magazine

“At Community Links Bromley, Julie Hunt runs the Funding Information and Advice Service Mentoring Scheme, which finds mentors to help small local voluntary organisations to build their capacity and attract funding. She tells Dominic Wood about scheme’s successes, how she boosted mentor numbers six-fold and why she believes it could be replicated nationally.”

Download Rapport to read Julie Hunt’s article.

What is a priority group ?

Your organisation should have an income of less than £100,000 and be a registered charity, community group or not-for-profit organisation operating in the borough of Bromley.

How does the process work?

The process starts with the completion of an organisational health check. This is a tick box exercise which identifies the areas requiring input. Once that has been completed, a suitable mentor is linked with you for a specific period of time (usually three months) to undertake a set piece of work to help you work on your identified priorities. Both parties sign an agreement which sets out the detail.

What specialist support can mentors offer?

Volunteer mentors are now available to support your organisation's work in specific areas, including:

Marketing
Public Relations
Governance
Strategic Planning
Monitoring and Evaluation
Event Management

How does the mentoring take place?

The intended amount of volunteering/mentoring time will be outlined at the first meeting to ensure clarity between you and your mentor. The mentoring can be provided on a one-to-one basis through regular meetings or remotely via email and telephone. Often mentoring is delivered as a combination of the two forms. The initial three months may be extended if both parties are happy to continue to work together.

What are the benefits of being a mentee organisation?

By linking with an individual who is willing to share their skills and experience for a specific period of time, a group has an opportunity to concentrate on a specific piece of work or priority area with the benefit of additional, appropriate support.

How is the matching process managed?

The Funding Information and Advice Officer is responsible for matching groups with mentors based upon the identified priorities of the group and by clarifying the key areas in which the volunteer mentor wants to provide additional input and support.

What happens next?

If you are interested in accessing the scheme and would like more information, please contact Julie Hunt, Funding Information and Advice Officer at Community Links Bromley on 020 8315 1915 or email: julieh@communitylinksbromley.org.uk