The recruitment of Mill Mentors is closed. If you’d like to get involve see all our current volunteering opportunities.
Who were The Mill Mentors?
In 2014 our Mill Mentor project trained up volunteers from the local community to provide advice and support to people who want to start new groups or activities at The Mill. This included how to set up new groups and activities, how to plan and promote their activities, and how to make budgets and build networks to ensure that their hard work flourished here.
Each mentor attend five training sessions and met their designated group leader once a month at least, for four to six months. During that time we supported Mill Mentors with regular drop-in sessions, advice, troubleshooting and mentor socials.
What did the training involve?
Mill Mentors went through a unique training scheme to prepare them to support others in the community. This involved five two-hour group sessions, and covered all the aspects of Community Mentoring that Mill Mentors will need.
It mapped the Mentors’ abilities, knowledge and networks and use these to match each mentor with a suitable group leader. The sessions included planning, and setting priorities.
Where did you find the groups to support?
We ran a ‘Grow Your Idea’ Competition which provided free room hire and some seed funding to 10 new community groups. In the past this seed funding has helped many groups get off the ground – from the Asian Women’s Support Group and The Coppermill Recycled Teens, to Grow Your Own Theatre drama sessions and 1-2-1 Computing for Older People.
What are the wider benefits of The Mill Mentor scheme?
The Mill Mentors took part in a dedicated Community Mentoring training scheme, which gave them the skills to support someone in shaping an idea, formulating plans, making decisions, and promoting themselves and their passions. These are key skills in many professions, and can be transferred to many aspects of work or personal life.
After training Mill Mentors received a certificate and had the opportunity to decide the focus of the new groups and activities at The Mill in 2014. They were able to see first-hand the difference that their time and experience can make in your community, and were instrumental in helping The Mill achieve its aims.
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