What is peer mentoring?

• It’s about getting some real time from someone who has been there and done it!
• It’s about having opportunities to reflect on and explore my ideas, concerns and challenges
• It’s about learning from someone who has experiences relevant to the challenges that you might be experiencing
• It might be about recognising that you might also need more specific support, such as business planning, HR or finance, and being referred to the right people

So, can my peer mentor write me a business plan?
No, but your mentor is able to provide  you with advice on how you might go about getting  your business plan in the right shape, and where to get additional support.

Here are a few of the things that peer mentors are not:

• an additional member of staff: so they won’t do your work for you
• there to solve a crisis or provide you with legal advice: so they will suggest you seek specific expertise elsewhere
• a consultant: so are not paid to deliver a particular set of outcomes
• going to give you answers or make decisions for you: so they won’t tell you what to do
• going to write your business plan or complete your tender for you

What sort of ideas, concerns or challenges could I seek to explore with a mentor?
You may be:

• considering  social enterprise as an option, but want to check out  your values, your commitment and / or the suitability of  your business
• ready to start your enterprise but want to review and test out your ideas and plans
• an established enterprise but want to explore the possibility of taking a new direction or how best to refresh a particular aspect of the  business
• wanting a safe space to get your head round a tricky dilemma, such as staff relationships, time management

How can I get support?
To register for support go to the 'Become a mentee page' and fill in an online enquiry form, or give Eky Egarnes a call on 0121 456 7400. Once brap has checked your eligibility for the programme and you have gone through the mentee registration process, we will look at your requirements and start the process of finding a suitable mentor for you.

How much support will I receive?
Peer mentors are able to provide you with up to five hours of support.

What if we can’t always meet face-to-face?
Support will in most cases be delivered on a one-to-one, face-to-face basis, involving just two people: you and your mentor.

However, there is no expectation that you will always meet face-to-face with your mentee, you may catch up over the phone, or via email.  But, the way in which you work together, including whether you meet face-to-face will be agreed in an initial meeting, to avoid expectations not being met.

In your initial meeting with your mentor you will establish the following things:

• Whether you are well suited
• How you’ll work together
• What the focus of the support will be
• Where you will meet and the best times of day for meetings
• The parameters of support on offer

You should not expect your mentor to facilitate group sessions unless this has been negotiated and agreed in your initial ‘conversation’ – where the working agreement will be established.

Can I get a mentor straight away?
We will endeavour to match you with a mentor within 4 weeks of registering on the programme. However, depending on the demand for support we may have to put you on a waiting list, to begin support in the next phase of the programme. Where this is necessary we will let you know so that you can make choose to stay on the list or opt out.

Does my mentor have to work with me over a particular period of time?
From the initial negotiation meeting between you and your mentor, where you will set the agenda, parameters and how and when you will work together, you will have three to six months to complete your work together.

Can my mentor still work with me if he/she agrees to?
Yes, of course, there is nothing to stop you continuing your relationship with your mentor when your time under the knowing me, knowing you programme comes to an end.  Other ways that you can stay involved and connected with mentors and mentees are:

• join Social Enterprise West Midlands (www.socialenterprise.org.uk and click register on line today)
• join the peer support networking group on Unltd world (www.unltdworld.com)

Can I work with more than one mentor?
The current support offer, to be facilitated by the Knowing Me... project team, will be limited to five hours, with one mentor for each beneficiary on the programme.

Do I get to choose my mentor?
No. brap will ensure that relevant information from both mentors and mentees is collected so that we can make successful and appropriate matches.

What if I can’t work with my mentor?
If you feel unable to work with your mentor brap will ensure that you are placed with another mentor and can continue providing support under the programme.

If you should find yourself in this situation then contact Eky Egarnes on 0121 456 7405.

What if my mentor doesn’t turn up?
In the first instance you should attempt to contact your mentor to check that you have the correct date and time and to reschedule the support session as required.

If you are unable to contact your mentor and your mentor has not sent an apology then notify brap by calling Amy or Eky on 0121 456 7400 or emailing on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

If this happens on two or more occasions the support offered will be terminated and you will be allocated a new mentor.

Do I have to pay?
No. This current support is free. However, although support is provided at no cost to you, your mentor is a professional with a busy working schedule. So courtesy and respect are essential.  If you cancel your support at short notice or miss appointments, there is no obligation for a mentor to continue working with you. It may also mean that you are no longer eligible for support.

Are the mentors trained?
All mentors go through mandatory peer mentoring training prior to being matched with a mentee.

What if I want more intensive support?
brap has worked with a number of consultants over the last two years who have delivered high quality business support to BME third sector organisations. These consultants have all joined the edge network, and by joining have committed to high quality socially driven and focused business support. If you are interested in working with an edge affiliated consultant then contact brap or go to the Edge network at www.brap.org.uk/theedge.