Mentoring

The GEM/SMC Grass Roots Project provides practical support to museums and galleries throughout Scotland. The project aims to achieve a lasting legacy of resources to support learning provision in Scotland’s museum sector. 

 One way in which Grass Roots aims to do this is through a new ‘mentoring’ scheme in Scottish museums and galleries.

Grass Roots is currently recruiting a ‘bank’ of volunteer mentors from across the museum sector who can offer specialist support to museums and galleries. These will be museum professionals who have specific areas of expertise that they feel they can offer. The aim will be to ‘match-up’ these mentors with individuals and organisations that identify a need for support with the development of their learning provision.

Our growing band of mentors can offer support and advice on a wide range of topics including:

·        ICT

·        Audience development

·        Drama

·        Visitor studies

·        Working with older learners

 Plus much more! So, if you, or your organisation, feel that you could benefit from the Grass Roots mentoring scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact us to set up an initial meeting.

What Will Mentoring Involve?

A mentoring session will probably involve:

1.  An initial site visit. The mentor will spend between half a day and a full day on-site with the contact person and establish needs and area(s) for development.

2.  The mentor and mentee will then develop an agreed action plan and timetable for the particular project - identifying particular areas where the mentor can offer information and guidance.

3.  The mentor will then keep in regular e-mail and telephone contact with the mentee throughout the development of the project. This may also involve follow-up site visits if necessary.

If you would be interested in contributing to the sector as a mentor yourself, please do contact Grass Roots for a discussion about areas that you feel you could offer support in.

For any information about the scheme, please don’t hesitate to contact: