Mentoring new leaders has been one of my most rewarding experiences in Girlguiding. I love helping volunteers grow in confidence so they can, in turn, inspire and support the girls in their units.
Each leader-in-training comes with their unique experiences and preferences, so we discuss how mentoring will meet their needs. They decide the frequency of our meetings, and we use a tracker to monitor their progress with their webinars, as part of the leader development programme, and to plan my visits.
One of the most valuable parts of my role is the four check-in visits in the new leader’s unit. These visits enable me to see how the new leader interacts with the girls, guides activities, and supports their team.
It is not an inspection, as I share in advance with the new leader, what I will be looking for. I also help out with the meeting activities and at the end of the meeting, we debrief on what worked well and I offer gentle suggestions for alternative approaches where needed. Many times, I leave feeling inspired myself!
All the guidance for mentors is available on the Learning Platform (Girlguiding: Primary Homepage). I also find great support from my fellow mentors—we meet quarterly to exchange experiences and ideas. Over 3-4 months, I typically dedicate 10-12 hours to my mentee, including preparation, visits, and follow-ups.
Mentoring a leader-in-training achieve their leader qualification is deeply fulfilling, knowing they will bring dedication and care to Girlguiding and the girls in their units. It is a privilege to support their journey!