Mentoring programme ‘great success’
Volunteers hone skills and gain confidence
After the success of the Ka¯ piti Governance Mentoring Programme pilot last year, the programme will continue in Ka¯piti this year while also expanding to Horowhenua, Manawatu¯, Tararua and Northland.
Initiated by Community Governance New Zealand in partnership with Mentoring Foundation New Zealand and delivered by Volunteer Ka¯piti with support from Ka¯piti Impact Trust, the programme provides a link between community organisations and those with governance experience, connecting them together to share skills.
Skills include how to be on, run or form an effective board or committee.
Volunteer Ka¯ piti and Ka¯ piti Impact Trust have been working together to strengthen the capability of the Ka¯ piti community sector with support from the Ka¯piti Coast District Council Social Investment Fund, Volunteer Ka¯piti manager Susan Ansell said.
“At the same time, a National Action Plan for Community Governance was launched in 2019 and we knew that Ka¯piti was in a great place to put one of their plans [a pilot governance mentoring programme] into action.
“We knew there was a diversity of
community governance experience in Ka¯ piti and a willingness to connect and share skills.”
Matching up 10 volunteer mentors with 10 mentees from different Ka¯ piti community organisations, the mentors and mentees met at least six times over a six-month period.
All mentees were self-selected — wanting to learn more and develop their performance, currently sitting in governance roles (boards or committees) in community organisations and were from Ka¯piti.
Mentees were from Ka¯piti Women’s Centre, Paeka¯ ka¯ riki Housing Trust, Volunteer Ka¯piti, Waikanae Cameo Society, Paraparaumu
College, Ka¯piti Boxing Club, The Shed Project, Raumati South School Board of Trustees, Community Connections Board, Ka¯piti Gymnastics, Ka¯piti Coast United and Energise
Otaki ¯ Charitable Trust.
Opportunities were also provided for everyone involved in the programme to meet together to discuss key themes.
The biggest takeaway from the programme was the confidence gained by the mentees.
Susan said, “The programme was a great success. It celebrates the expertise and capability that already exists within Ka¯piti and provides a framework for learning and connections to be shared for the benefit of the wider Ka¯piti community sector.
“What is great is that even though the pilot has finished, the majority of the participants want to keep on meeting and building on their governance knowledge together.”
This year the programme is available in Ka¯piti, Horowhenua, Manawatu¯, Tararua and Northland along with an online programme offered to 15 mentees if you are outside of these areas.