Natasha Burnell, Programme Manager at People and Work told us about her experiences of being a Peer Mentor:

“Since September 2023 I have mentored two organisations, nominally supporting them with a mixture of business planning, community asset transfer and funding applications.

However, mentoring has been far more than what was written on the brief. Those were the foundations and what was initially sought, but it has become far more than that. And surprisingly, it has been a symbiotic relationship. Each organisation is distinct and despite similarities in organisational set-up (CIC, charity etc) the practical day to day running and people who constitute that organisation are unique – being able to work alongside, without being responsible for, an organisation is a privileged position to be in, and one which affords a lot of insight into best practices, visibility for opportunities for development and also the chance to share some really good ideas!

Working with organisations who have actively sought out help and support from Interlink has been reflective of people who are deeply passionate about their organisation. Working with these individuals (and those around them) is incredibly inspiring and motivational, it restores a lot of faith in community groups and the third sector as a whole and really underpins why I do this job.

Spending time with people who are driven to do the very best they can, has proven to be a melting pot for ideas. Suggestions have abounded which have complemented both us as the mentor organisation, and the mentees. It has increased the scope of provision for both places – ideas breed ideas, and positive, energetic people accelerate this massively. This has been of huge value to both the mentor and the mentee.

It has also increased my breadth and knowledge – for example, a business plan is not a definitive tool which can be used for multiple purposes (which had been my previous experience) a Community Ownership Fund application requires a completely unique business plan probably not recognised anywhere else as a business plan! Also, developments in building legislation and sizes of buildings having different requirements, such as bat surveys – knowing how to project manage the renovation of one roof is not the same as another….

The ability to be a support for people who lead their organisation is a really important role to play; to be able to be an external sounding board, who is a trusted ear, who can relate and empathise and may be able to offer alternative suggestions through past experience – not just my own but from having worked with others – or simply, just to listen knowing that you understand.

The funds which we were paid to conduct peer-mentoring have been a delightful pot of unrestricted funding which has enabled us to increase our own provision in a way we would not have been able to otherwise. We have chosen to use the funds alongside the organisations we have supported, in a bid to complete the circle and further underpin what they are seeking to achieve; we increase both our numbers and increase opportunities for the local community at no cost to either organisation!

In a nutshell peer-mentoring for me was being able to be the support for others, that I had missed myself, I’ve gained additional skills and knowledge that I’d never come across before as well as having an ‘insider’ view of better practices at other organisations. It has been an incredibly rewarding and interesting experience and I look forward to supporting more groups in the future.”

Find out more about Interlink’s Peer Mentoring Programme.