Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

The aim of the Realise Mentoring Programme is to provide free mentoring support to leaders of third sector organisations. Any organisation that has aspirations to grow, diversify income streams and become more sustainable can apply, irrespective of turnover, staffing levels, location or sector.

To be eligible your organisation must have social aims, be governed by a voluntary management committee or board, be independent of government and be principally non-profit distributing. You should be able to show that you are actively looking to develop your organisation's long-term financial sustainability and diversify your income base. You will also need to be prepared to commit to the mentoring programme, at senior management level, for a period of up to a year.

A mentor can help the mentee to view the organisation and the way they do business in a different light. Many organisations face similar challenges in ensuring their financial sustainability, particularly in the current economic climate. Mentoring can provide a helpful complement to training and development opportunities to help develop the skills and awareness of alternative approaches to achieving sustainability.

Mentors bring their own unique experience of life and business combined with a friendly interest in the business's development. Our mentors are willing to enable others to benefit from their experience and their commitment is usually for at least three - four hours of time per month from the mentor, with successful mentoring relationships lasting on average 12 months.

By supporting, stimulating and challenging you on an individual and organisational level, our mentors can help you develop and grow your organisation and strengthen its sustainability. They can help realise your potential.

Realise Mentoring is a programme funded by the Scottish Government as part of its Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan. The programme is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, SCVO, Edinburgh Business Development and Forth Sector Development. The programme is available to enterprising third sector organisations across urban and rural Scotland

To find out more about the Realise Mentoring Programme, either as a mentor or a mentee, please visit the website at www.realisementoring.org.uk, e-mail info@realisementoring.org.uk or telephone 0131 2213197.