'It's about making connections, whether you are open to listening to someone else's story... and applying the skills you have to help them move on. In this respect, mentoring is life skills enhancing.' Mentor
'A useful way of increasing my own self belief in my interpersonal skills as a way of tackling barriers and prejudice I face.' Mentee
RADAR has run mentoring schemes with some of the UK's leading organisations and businesses, including UnumProvident, British Energy, Post Office, Centrica and Zurich. We know from our own experience and that of other disability organisations that young disabled people in particular can benefit from a mentor - another person, disabled or non-disabled, who can demonstrate through their own experience and wisdom that a road that a young disabled person may have considered barred to them could, in fact, be open.
The Touchstone publication in the right hand column explains more about RADAR's mentoring scheme, and examines UnumProvident's experience of mentoring.
'Don't underestimate the importance of personal contact with local groups to establish relationships. This is where RADAR is really helping make the scheme a success.' British Energy