Tripod call-out for volunteer grassroots social justice mentors

Tripod Training, our Grassroots Trainers Network cousins north of the border, are calling out for people to support their great new programme.

Hey friends from the grassroots social justice movements scene!

We are looking for experienced/skilled organisers or campaigners who would like to volunteer their time to mentor a group of participants in our Organising for Power Programme.

What is it?

Organising for Power is a comprehensive programme which aims to strengthen movements against racism and xenophobia and for migrants/refugees/ asylum seeking people’s rights in Scotland. This will be done through 3 residential training weekends, in-person and online coaching in essential campaign organising skills, mentoring with experienced campaigners, peer-to-peer learning and consistent and sustained follow-up.

As a mentor, you will be introduced to a participating group or two before the end of the residential training weekends. You will have the opportunity to make a real-life difference to the participants by supporting them to implement the campaign plans they develop during the training.

The role involves:

  • providing 1 or 2 participating groups with one-to-one support to move towards implementing their campaign plans with regular review of progress and impact. You would also help them to make necessary changes to their plans;
  • having 4 regular meetings between August 2018 and March 2019, roughly every 2 months . This can be done over the phone, Skype or face-to-face. Each meeting may last up to an hour;
  • sharing your own experiences and offering advice on campaigning and organising;
  • empowering them to make necessary tough decisions and when they go through some rough patches during their campaigns;
  • signposting them to other contacts, organisations and resources needed.

What difference will you make?

You will help participants to apply the lessons they have learned during the training and strengthen their skills as organisers and campaigners. By accompanying them in this journey you will be building their confidence, helping them hone their campaigning skills and techniques and develop in to active organisers in this growing movement. You will be instrumental in implementing campaign plans that tackle the root causes of xenophobia and racism and for migrants / refugees / asylum seeking people’s rights.

What‘s in it for you?

By being a mentor you will get the chance to develop and sharpen your own mentoring skills and enhance your existing knowledge and experience in this exciting movement. You will have an opportunity to meet, network and build relationships with activists who are passionate about shifting power relations and dismantling oppressive systems in relation to racial justice.

We will be helping you ease nicely into this role by providing you with guidance and training if needed. There will also be opportunities to meet the whole group and other mentors to share about the whole experiences. Though the role is voluntary, travel allowance will be provided.

Who can apply?

If you have experience organising and/or campaigning with grassroots social justice movements, preferably around racial justice and migrants / refugees / asylum seeking people’s rights though not necessarily so…

If you are passionate about helping new and upcoming organisers and campaigners by sharing your experiences, successes, failures and lessons learned…

If you get on with people, have great listening and communication skills, and have an open mind…

…then please apply to be a mentor with us. You do not have to be in Scotland to be a mentor.

How to apply?

Apply now and become a mentor! Kindly send your application by 1 June 2018.

If you’d like to find out more about mentoring before applying, get in touch with us at o4p@tripodtraining.org. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have!