About Us
LINKnet mentoring is an award- winning, Scottish, ethnic minority charity, the first direct mentoring organisation in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Scotland's 2022 census reports that since 2011, the country's black, minority and ethnic population has increased by 84%. LINKnet's main focus is to provide programmes to support inclusion, equality and diversity in Scotland's booming minorities population. We achieve this by working to enable our clients, including refugees and asylum seekers into further and higher education, employment and civic life.
Over the years, we have supported thousands who have taken part in our programmes and our team enjoy empowering these communities to feel valued and at home here in Scotland.
Join us on this journey!
To provide one-to-one mentoring support for minority ethnic individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers, to help them achieve their goals in employment, education, and personal development.
Mentoring focuses on:
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Academic development
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Career progression
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Personal growth
Through individual progress, we aim to create a wider positive impact for minority ethnic communities and improve their representation across society.
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Reduce inequality and disadvantage experienced by minority ethnic communities
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Improve access to and outcomes from public services by working in partnership with the public sector
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Foster integration, dialogue, and mutual understanding between communities
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Build the awareness and capacity of both majority and minority communities to challenge racism and other barriers to equality
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Promote cultural diversity and recognise community contributions through mentor training, mentee induction, information sharing, and public events
How We Began
1997: an idea becomes an ambition
At the 1997 cross-sector, national conference, ‘Active Partnerships: The
Multiple Benefits of Black and Minority Ethnic Mentoring’ an idea was
muted to develop an organisation which could assist minority ethnic
communities in Scotland with their confidence and ability to negotiate the
UK job market. Guidance from experienced mentors was recognised as a
powerful way to create opportunities and help overcome barriers such as
discrimination, lack of access, and limited networks. From this seed of an
idea, a steering group dedicated three years to making it a reality.
2000: LINKnet Mentoring is launched
By 2000, LINKnet Mentoring Limited had secured the first of its three-year
grants of £261,000 from the Community Fund (now the Big Lottery Fund).
This funding enabled the organisation to begin operations on 1 November
2000, employing two full-time and one part-time staff members at its new
crucially central base at 21 Guthrie Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JG.
2020 onwards: increasing our support of minority groups
From its beginnings as a mentoring organisation, LINKnet has expanded to
offer basic English language courses and more recently, focused business
language classes. It has also started a successful befriending programme,
which helps avoid loneliness and isolation and the LINKnet team run regular
networking events.
A thank you to our Founding Director
This ongoing commitment to supporting minority ethnic groups in the UK
would not have been possible without the vision and drive of our recently
retired Founding Director, Dissa, who was in attendance at that first
Conference way back in 1997. We offer him our thanks for his 25 years+ of
service. Read more about Dissa’s life below
Our Founding Director
Ranbandara Dissanayaka, 'Dissa'
The story of our Founding Director.
Please click on the image to read more
Our Partners
Formal past partners
Saheliya, Sikh Sanjog, ELREC, Edinburgh Napier University, MEHIS
Formal current partners
Edinburgh Community Food
Informal partners
Shakti Women’s Aid, SWAP East, NKS, Milan, Score Scotland, The Welcoming, High Riggs Job Centre plus, Leith Walk Job Centre Plus and Wester Hailes Job centre Plus, SDS, Access to Industry, Mid Lothian Voluntary Action, Volunteer Midlothian, Volunteer East Lothian, Volunteer Edinburgh, Multi Cultural Family Base, Passion 4 Fusion, Mott MacDonald Engineering company.