Mentorship can provide many benefits for both mentors and their mentees. It provides a
great opportunity for both parties to learn new things, forge greater networks and grow their
professional experience.
The social value sector is rapidly growing, and there are more opportunities than ever
available to young professionals to make an impact, but…
- What are those opportunities?
- How can young professionals access them?
- What support is available?
To help young professionals answer these questions, YPSV launched their mentoring
scheme in September last year as a free and accessible cross-industry initiative, which pairs
likeminded individuals in the social value space, at different stages of their careers.
We caught up with Rob Wolfe and Chloe Melvin to tell us a bit about their experience as a
mentor and mentee on the programme.
Tell me about yourselves, and why you chose to take part in the YPSV mentoring
programme?
Rob Wolfe: I have been working in social value since cofounding CHY in 2006, previously
working at a grass roots level in prisons, for communities and supporting disadvantaged
young people in Leeds.
I strongly believe that social value (social impact, social responsibility, community
investment..call it what you want) is driven by its people and our collective, sometimes
overlooked, ‘why?’. Joining the YPSV mentoring programme as a mentor was a no brainer.
Listening to Chloe, enabling her to make sense of a befuddling discipline and providing, I
hope, support towards value-based decisions on her next steps, her ambitions and re-
engaging with her ‘why?’ was an amazing experience and I hope I was of help.
Chloe Melvin: I have been working in social value and CSR for several years since leaving
university. My current position is as a Principal Programme Officer at Southwark Council
leading on the development and delivery of their Social Value programme. Finding a career
which connected my passion for helping others and tackling inequality to the world of work
was very exciting.
The YPSV mentoring programme launched at the perfect time for me. I had recently decided
to move on from my previous role and company to take some much needed time to reset
and understand where I wanted my career to go, and explore wider opportunities within the
field. It was quite daunting and I was keen to soak up guidance and wisdom from others who
had been navigating this industry for longer than myself. Unfortunately, I’d worked myself
into a pattern I wasn’t happy with and was lacking motivation and passion for an industry I
previously fell in love with.
What did you hope to get out of the programme?
Rob Wolfe: I hoped that I would be able to support someone to realise their own potential.
Chloe Melvin: I was looking for some support, advice and guidance to help me make sense
of the challenges I was experiencing, and to explore new avenues to reignite my passion for
social value.
What have you got out of your mentoring experience?
Rob Wolfe: A huge amount. Discussion with Chloe enabled me to gain a practical, greater,
and broader understanding of how the discipline has evolved, how it is challenging young
people coming into the profession, where we can sometimes fail our younger colleagues and
what we can do to ensure that we retain passionate, value driven and ambitious young
people who are in it to make a difference, not just draw a salary.
Chloe Melvin: It sounds dramatic, but this experience genuinely changed my life. My
discussions with Rob provided a space for me to be open and honest about my experiences
in the industry, and reflect on what I’m good at and what I enjoyed. Rob gave me the tools,
by taking me through his own experiences, to evaluate my own thoughts, helping me to re-
build my confidence. I owe a lot to Rob.
How has this impacted your career?
Rob Wolfe: It made me realise how much directly supporting others outside of my own
organisation, as I did in my early career, is important to my own wellbeing and sense of
‘why’.
Chloe Melvin: Our conversations broadened my horizons, helping me to set bigger ambitions
for myself and my career. Rob helped me to see new and different perspectives which have
allowed me to grow and develop as a social value professional.
How would you summarise your mentor/mentee experience?
Rob Wolfe: It has been an absolute pleasure and will continue to be so. And I hope Chloe
got as much out of it as I did.
Chloe Melvin: Inspiring, uplifting and reassuring – no amount of ‘thank you’ will be enough to
express my gratitude towards Rob and YPSV for this experience.
What impact will this programme have within the Social Value space?
Rob Wolfe: I think, when it works well, the YPSV mentoring programme can be an enabler
for collaborative knowledge sharing, a space for creative ideas unrestricted by business and
bureaucratic barriers and a place where younger colleagues can confidently challenge the
norm and bring innovation and new ways of thinking.
Chloe Melvin: Effective collaboration is probably the biggest enabler of good and meaningful
activity within this space, something which this programme directly contributes to.
What would you say to someone considering the mentor programme?
Rob Wolfe: If you are open to listen, willing to be challenged, and want to support the next
generation of change makers…do it!
Chloe Melvin: Don’t miss the opportunity to get involved in this programme to get a greater
sense and understanding of the social value space and where you can make the greatest
contribution.