Taking the stress out of matching a cohort, with Self-Matching
with Annie Colthorpe
from North West Paediatric Mentoring
with Annie Colthorpe
from North West Paediatric Mentoring
When Annie came to Mentorloop, she was working night shifts at the hospital, whilst also volunteering to run an industry-changing mentoring program on the side. However, it was becoming unsustainable to do so manually. Here we learn how she was able to take the stress away by making mentoring magic, with Mentorloop’s mentee-led matching:
Annie Colthorpe works with a small group of doctors to run a mentoring program for paediatricians in training, to create networks of support and to create a sense of community amongst them. Many of the participants were doctors looking to improve their confidence as they entered periods of transition in training such as starting work in paediatrics, returning from time away or stepping up to more senior roles.
Annie and her colleagues had been running two small programs manually, as volunteers, for a few years and wanted to bring these programs together and create something larger.
The team were previously spending an average of 10 hours per week of their own time coordinating the program, making introductions, tracking registrations and simply didn’t have the time to stay on top of it, let alone grow the program further.
Mentorloop’s smooth registration process and participant driven matching has allowed them to grow the program and get time back, now spending a far more manageable one hour per week.
“The whole matching process is so much easier. Mentees can find their own mentors on Mentorloop, and I can just help out when needed, as opposed to trying to personally find the best match for each mentee”.
Following a successful 6-month pilot, with positive feedback from mentors and mentees, and having secured additional funding, Annie and the team are looking to run the Paediatric Mentoring program for another three years with Mentorloop.
The whole matching process is so much easier. Mentees can find their own mentors on Mentorloop, and I can just help out when needed, as opposed to trying to personally find the best match for each mentee.
What Role Does Equity and Equality Play in Your Mentoring Program?
The right mentoring program should level the playing field to empower entire cohorts of people: workplaces, member associations, social groups and educational institutions. Equality should be a cherished value so that every individual can thrive—whoever they are, whatever their background, however they worship or whomever they love. But we can’t arrive at equality without it’s often forgotten partner, equity.
What does a Mentoring Program Coordinator do?
Being a Mentoring Program Coordinator is an incredibly rewarding experience that positively impacts the lives of many. And while mentoring programs don’t fully run themselves (even though Mentorloop can do a great deal of the heavy lifting!), they do require a point of contact that can steer the program in the right direction for the organisation that is running one.
What Role Does Equity and Equality Play in Your Mentoring Program?
The right mentoring program should level the playing field to empower entire cohorts of people: workplaces, member associations, social groups and educational institutions. Equality should be a cherished value so that every individual can thrive—whoever they are, whatever their background, however they worship or whomever they love. But we can’t arrive at equality without it’s often forgotten partner, equity.