We are experts in inclusive and impactful mentoring
We support organisations to design and deliver empowering mentoring programmes that inspire and engage
How we work
We work with organisations across sectors, supporting them to design and deliver mentoring programmes that genuinely make a difference. We are experts in empowering mentoring, and are passionate about helping organisations to create mentoring relationships that empower mentors and mentees alike, rather than reinforcing traditional hierarchies and power structures.
We deliver experiential training, which helps individuals to embed new knowledge, skills and attitudes. We believe that the best learning takes places when we:
Connect deeply with new and diverse people
Learn from ourselves and our experiences
Learn through doing
Step outside of our comfort zones
We know that mentoring can support individuals to learn in all of these ways. But we also know that it takes time, thought, care and knowledge to truly make mentoring work.
What we cover
We have a range of training packages to cater to organisations of all shapes, sizes and sectors. We work closely with each organisation to understand the context, aims and objectives of their mentoring, before suggesting workshops and events to suit them. These might include:
The fundementals of mentoring: building an empowering mentoring toolkit
The mentor ‘coach’: communication for non-hierarchical mentoring
Key programme events, including programme launch, midpoint reflection, and end of programme celebration
And more!
We can deliver events online or in person, and can cater for different group sizes, genders, experience levels and access needs.
Our past clients include…
Find out more
We are always looking to connect with organisations that want to empower their mentors and mentees. We have a number of training packages to suit organisations of all shapes and sizes, from all sectors. Get in touch to find out more!
Mentor Joana and mentee Nanou write together about their experience on the Routes Mentoring Programme, which they describe as 'More than a mentoring programme, it is a human journey celebrating women!’. In this blog, you’ll learn more about what they’ve worked on together, and what they’ve learned along the way.
Time to celebrate! Photos and poem from the Celebration Event for our 11th Mentoring Programme.
For the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, Routes Alumni mentor Nushrat Khan reflects on transferrable skills from mentoring and her work in global health.
In this blog, Routes Project Development Manager Roula Kheder writes about the first findings of our Routes to Employment project.
Reflection suggestions from Routes for the final days of 2023. Plus a kind invitation to tune into your advocacy power.
A poem by Routes, on the current events in Palestine, Israel and the surrounding regions.
Fakhria Joya, mentee on the 10th Routes Mentoring Programme, talks about her journey to the UK, her experience with mentoring and the importance of education.
Highlights from our 10th Mentoring Programme, by Routes Mentoring Programme Tamana Safi.
A statement on the passing of the recent Anti Refugee Bill by Routes Founding Director Leyla McLennan
Key take-aways from our panel event ‘What is the role of workplaces to create welcome for people seeking safety?’, marking World Refugee Day 2023.
From the time I remember, I have always wanted to be an architect. I have always been attracted to art, design, and drawing. I arrived in the UK in 2010 and got my bachelor’s degree in 2014 in Business of Arts…
Starting with our fifth cohort back in 2021, our Head of Programmes Wieke has written poems to celebrate the end of the journeys of each graduating cohort of mentors and mentees.
It is an early September evening and the dark is settling in earlier than it has for the past few months. As it does, a dozen people gather in the Broadgate offices of UBS, dressed ready for a celebration…
We celebrated the end of our 8th cohort’s mentoring journeys at the end of August, bringing together mentors and mentees in person (and online, for those who couldn’t join us!) to reflect, share and celebrate their mentoring. Routes Mentoring Programme Manager, Wieke Vink, wrote and shared this poem for the cohort, to mark the end of their journeys…
“One of the joys of the Routes programme has been getting to know a diverse group of women who share a common set of goals: to embrace community, to lift one another up and to leave no-one behind.”
Ishmatu and Ellie were paired on our April - August 2022 cohort. Together they worked on Ishmatu’s goals. In this piece, Ishmatu speaks about her growth in confidence.
Ellie and Ishmatu were paired on our April - August 2022 cohort. Ellie works as Senior Campaigns Manager at Nesta. In this piece, she shares her thoughts on mentoring, and how to support someone else to find their confidence.
Migerjana & Tiffany were paired as Mentor and Mentee on our April - August 2022 cohort. In this blog, they explain why being a mother won’t hinder your ability to join the Routes programme. And Migerjana shares her top tips on how to juggle motherhood and being a mentee.
“I discovered that we have a lot in common, as women we are going through very similar challenges in this male-dominated capitalist world, and we can challenge perspectives collectively by supporting each other.”
Having studied law in Albania, mentee Florida is faced with the challenge of learning a whole new legal system. Emily is an associate at Milbank LLP. She joined the mentoring programme to support someone else, whilst learning and developing in her own right.
Mentee Xiaojuan shares her thoughts and reflections on her mentoring journey so far - the new relationship she’s made, the confidence she has built, and the new experiences she’s had as a result.
Routes Mentoring Programme Producer, Wieke, shared this beautiful spoken word piece with our 2021 cohort of mentors and mentees at their end of programme celebration last month.
Teri-Ann Bobb Baxter is an actor and trainer, who is the founder of Speak Up. She’s also a long-time Routes facilitator, delivering the Public Speaking Workshops on our Mentoring Programme. In this blog, you can read her top tips to get ready for any gathering, presentation or public event!
Reflections from mentor Dee, Product Manager at Investec, who mentored on our 9th Mentoring Programme.