A mentoring programme designed to strengthen good governance in the community sector is returning for a third year and Upper Clutha organisations are being encouraged to take part.

The Leadership in Governance Mentoring Programme matches a mentee with a mentor who has strong not-for-profit governance experience to learn from them for six months.

This year all mentees and mentors will be supported by programme coordinator Fiona Reeve from ‘Huddl’, which is an initiative to strengthen community groups.

“Volunteer South have done an amazing job of delivering the governance mentoring programme for the last two years and I’m looking forward to continuing to support mentors and mentees in their governance journey with this year’s cohort,” Fiona said.

The programme is being offered across Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago, and Wānaka organisations and individuals can again take advantage of the programme as mentors or mentees.

“In previous years we have had strong involvement from the Wānaka community with many Wānaka based mentors and mentees,” Fiona told the Wānaka App.

“This has included mentors with extensive governance experience from organisations such as WAI Wānaka, Wānaka Water Project, Business Wānaka Ltd, WHIPIT and a board member from the Wānaka Chamber of Commerce. 

“Last year we had mentees from Cat Rescue Wānaka, Wānaka Search and Rescue, Food for Love Wānaka, WAO, Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust, [and] Generation Zero.”

Fiona said the programme, which is being delivered in partnership with the Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand, offers an opportunity for mentees and mentors to access a mentoring model that provides ongoing support and advice to help leaders in their personal development.

“It’s also a fantastic way to foster connections with other leaders in the sector,” she said.

The programme will start in August and run through until April 2025. 

Registrations are open until July 24, after which applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed, with the final cohort to be confirmed for an orientation at the end of August.

For more information or to register contact Fiona Reeve on [email protected].

PHOTO: Supplied