:: 4 July 2008
Aims | Mentoring | Funding | Partners | Projects
Set up in 2000 LINKnet's mentoring project aims to help people from Black Minority Ethnic Backgrounds in 3 ways.
By providing one-to-one support, mentors will help individuals develop their skills and knowledge to enable them to achieve their goals in their career, education or personal life.
Aims to recruit black minority ethnic school leavers and College/University graduates and prepare them for work or further education in order to address the prevailing inequality in education and employment for black minority ethnic communities.
Once mentees are recruited on to the project they will be given induction by public or private sector employers. Mentees are then allowed to pick one or two potential employers of their choice. At the next stage LINKnet attempts to provide a mentor to the mentee from the potential employer. Mentoring then starts with the hope of mentee getting employment with the desired employer or al least with an employer of similar standing.
Call Deborah or Lissa on 0131 225 6284
Email: enquiries@linknetmentoring .com
International Alliance
International Alliance is LINKnet's recent joint project with Napier University and indeed the first funded joint project between a University and a ME organisation in Edinburgh. Through this project the two organisations aim to encourage Scottish Businesses to expand to other countries with advice and participation from overseas students studying at Napier University.
Students who are interested in participating in the Scottish Government’s Fresh Talent Initiative will be encouraged to take placements with Scottish Businesses with the expectation of obtaining paid employment.
LINKnet mentors will support them while on placement. The participants of the project will benefit by getting work experience in Scotland and an income. The Businesses will benefit from the experience and the expertise of the students.
The project is funded by The Scottish Government’s “Fresh Talent: Supporting International Students
Challenge Fund”.
Resource Centre
LINKnet's Resource Centre is operational now with 10 brand new computers with broadband Internet facilities. The Resource Centre also has other relevant information regarding further/higher education and employment.
All minority ethnic people can use the Resource Centre free of charge. For those who cannot afford Internet cafes or private computers to improve their employability LINKnet offers a valuable service within the Resource Centre.
The project is funded by Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Trust, Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association and Awards for All.
Political Mentoring Project
To address the serious under-representation of Minority Ethnic, particularly Black Minority Ethnic, people in the Scottish Parliament and in local authorities, LINKnet is designing a proactive political mentoring programme.
With seven years experience in delivering structured mentoring programmes LINKnet is well placed with expertise and infrastructure to carry out an effective mentoring programme to develop political leaders from Minority Ethnic (ME) communities.
Mentors will be recruited from current MSPs and Councillors. Through the programme aspiring ME politicians will learn what is involved in becoming a successful politician, will be introduced to appropriate contacts and exposed to the public.
All disadvantaged groups such as minority ethnic, disabled, gender, transgender/lesbian & gay, faith and traveller communities from Edinburgh, the Lothians, Scottish Borders and Fife are eligible to apply. The duration of the project is from June 2008 to March 2009.
LINKnet will run a structured mentoring programme with the participation of current politicians to prepare 15 people from disadvantaged groups to assume positions in the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh and Lothians Councils, Public bodies and other institutions that work at policy making level.
