Do you feel disillusioned with Welsh Politics? Would you like to get more involved in public life and have an impact on the decisions that are made that affect you and your communities? EYST Wales is now recruiting for the third round of the successful BAME Routes to Public Life Mentoring Scheme. Funded by Welsh Government, the scheme is part of the All Wales BAME (Black, Asian and ethnic minority) Engagement Programme. The BAME Routes to Public Life Mentoring Scheme is intended to help ethnic minority/BAME people to develop political skills and increase their impact in public life.
The third round of the scheme will run from 23rd September 2020 until 30th March 2021 and will include:
• 1-1 mentoring with highly influential people;
• Bespoke training sessions on political influencing, communications and campaigning at Welsh Government locations;
• A trip to UK Houses of Parliament (virtual or in-person);
• Optional opportunity to help organise or contribute to EYST’s annual conference observing the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The two rounds running in 2019 and 2020 respectively have and had more 50 Mentor/Mentees pairs.
81% of previous mentees felt their understanding of Public and Political Life in Wales and been significantly increased by attending the program.
63% of previous participants stated the programme had a significant or huge impact on their confidence.
Deputy Minister Jane Hutt states “The Welsh Government is proud to fund the BAME routes to public life mentoring scheme as part of our Equality and Inclusion Programme.
The scheme has delivered excellent results over the past few years; creating empowering relationships which provide Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals crucial opportunities to learn, influence and build networks. There is more work to do to achieve the representation of BAME people that we need in public life but this scheme provides a crucial foundation for that work”.
Nirushan Sudarsan, a law student from Cardiff University took part in a previous round. Since completing the Mentoring Programme Nirushan has gone on to become a trustee with Youth Cymru, a governor of a primary school and is currently working on campaigns for equality in Wales with Citizens Cymru Wales.
Nirushan says of his experience on the programme: ‘The Mentoring programme, and my mentor the Deputy Minister, has given me the capacity to believe in myself that I can make a positive change here in Wales whether it is small or big’
Another previous participant Mohammed Alamgir reflects on his experience of the project.
‘I am so grateful this project which gave me access to mentoring that I would never have received otherwise. I was matched up with a very high profile public figure and Assembly Member who was very open to ensuring the project was successful by making himself very much available to me, having open two dialogue with me as his mentee and showing me the inner workings of the Senedd , which I really wanted. He also made introductions for me which opened up further doors. Following on from the mentoring scheme, I put myself forward and was successfully elected Director of Equalities at Plaid Cymru. I recommend the BAME Routes into Public Life Mentoring Project to anyone and am forever grateful to EYST for their support’
EYST Wales invites applications from BAME people who have a clear interest in politics and/or public life and a commitment to their own and other’s development. We aim to match mentees with mentors who have similar interests and come from the same geographic area.
To apply, please take a few moments to complete this survey by 7th August:
The application deadline is 5pm on Friday 7th August. We will notify you by early September if you have been accepted into the project and matched with a mentor.
There will be a chance to find out more at an online Interest Afternoon session on Tuesday 28th July 3-4pm, where previous mentees and coordinators will be on hand to answer your questions
For questions or to register for the interest afternoon please contact Emily Robertson emily@eyst.org.uk or phone/message 07903074718