LIGHT: e-Workbook

Project
INNOVATIVE METHODS AND PRACTICES TO FACILITATE SOCIAL INCLUSION
No. 503575-LLP-1-2009-1-LT-GRUNDTVIG-GM
2009-2011
www.socialmobility.eu

V. TRAINING OF 3M-ACTORS PRIOR THE SOCIAL GROUP MENTORING STARTS

Before starting the mentoring process it is very important to prepare 3M-actors for the successful participation in the process. Three different trainings at different stages should be organised:

the training for mentoring managers/coordinators before the start of the mentoring process;
the training for mentors before the first meeting with mentees;
the training for mentees after/during the first meeting of the groups.

The main aim of the training for mentoring manager/coordinator is to prepare them to be the successful mentoring managers/coordinators and organise the whole mentoring process from the selection of mentees to the preparing the monitoring conclusions and possible improvements for the future mentoring.

During the training of the mentors they are prepared to be the good listeners, good conflict solvers, ask suitable questions and be the leaders in the process. The main aim of this training is to help them understand how important the mentoring process is and to learn their roles in the process.

After/during the first meeting of the groups the training for mentees is organised in order to prepare them for their role as a mentee in the social group mentoring process and to equip them with the skills needed for successful participation in the process: good communication skills, learn to work in the group, be tolerant and respect each other’s opinion.

Training for mentoring managers/coordinators

Aim: to prepare participants to be the successful mentoring managers/coordinators in the social group mentoring process.

Learning outcomes:

to help mentoring managers/coordinators learn about the mentoring process, learn about the stages of the process, get acquainted with their role as a manager/coordinator and learn how to organise the whole mentoring process from the selection of mentees to the preparing the monitoring conclusions and possible improvements for the future mentoring.

Training for mentoring managers/coordinators should cover the following topics:

getting acquainted with the other coordinators;
information about the mentoring program;
expectations concerning the mentoring program;
aspects of the selection of the mentees and mentors;
aspects of forming the mentoring groups and matching the ideal mentor for the group;
providing training for mentors and mentees;
mentoring manager/coordinator main skills - good listener, asking suitable questions, communicative and conflict solver;
useful tools to support the mentoring process (contract, diary, minutes);
collecting monitoring results and preparing conclusions for the improvement of future mentoring process.

It is recommended to offer two training sessions of five hours.

The following session plan for the mentoring managers/coordinators could be used:

1^st training day

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Introduction of the topics and presentation of training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to get acquainted with each other, to introduce the training. Introduction of participants personal and professional background experiences in mentoring, with the target group and with their situation	welcome participants present information	10 min.
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with the concept of the mentoring.	Give main definition and aims of mentoring and group social mentoring Present the roles and responsibilities of the 3M actors Acquaint with special needs of mentoring for single target group	40 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Individual work	To structure important information about the own life and to reflect expectations concerning the mentoring program.	Ask participants to write down on the cards their expectations concerning mentoring: why do I want to be a mentoring manager/coordinator, what do I expect in general what skills do I have which could be useful for the mentoring manager/coordinator what should not happen for sure what is my own benefit	30 min.	Cards on pin board
Group work	To cluster the results, find common answers and discuss the results	Ask participants to form small groups and to cluster the cards on pin board with the answers to the questions from the previous task Ask to present the results and discuss them with other groups	30 min	Cards on pin board
Break			20 min.
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with the main aspects of selecting the mentors and mentees	Present to the participants: the procedure of selecting the mentees the procedure of selecting the mentors which aspects should be considered in the selection procedure	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To prepare for the selection procedure of mentors and mentees	Ask participants to form small groups and to prepare two questionnaires – one for the selection of mentees and one for the selection of mentors Ask to present the results and discuss them with other groups.	40 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with the main aspects of forming the mentoring groups and matching of the mentor with the group	Present to the participants: The methods of forming the mentoring groups How to match the ideal mentor for the group which aspects should be considered in the groups forming and matching procedures	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with their role as a trainer for mentors and mentees and present the structure of the trainings	Present to the participants: the structure and main topics of the trainings for mentors the structure and main topics of the trainings for mentees	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Individual work	To prepare for the matching of mentors with the groups of mentees	give to the participants the list of the mentors profiles and the list of mentees profiles with their expectations for the mentor ask participants to form the groups of mentees and match them with the mentors ask the participants to present the results and discuss it with the group	20 min.	List of the mentors profiles, list of the mentees profiles, flip chart paper, pens
Break			20 min.
Trainer’s input	To present to the participants the importance of good listening within the mentoring process.	Present to the participants: styles of listening the definition and the techniques of active listening the rules of proper listening	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To strengthen the skills of listening of the participants	ask the participants to form the groups of 3 persons first two minutes first person speaks, second listens and makes notes and third only listens after two minutes members of small groups change roles and continues work after other two minutes members change roles again and continues work ask participants to present other their group members and share with others which was the best technique of listening to her.	30 min	Plain sheets of paper for making notes, pens
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants.	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the first training day and give an outlook for the second day	10 min.

2^nd training day

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Presentation of 2^nd day training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to introduce the training.	welcome participants present information	10 min.	Welcome presentation of 2^nd day training aim and agenda
Trainer’s input	To present to the participants the importance of communication and asking the correct questions when working with mentees and mentors.	Present to the participants: the definition of communication the importance of first impression the stages of communication attentive and inattentive behaviour rules of communication types of questions	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Individual work	To help the participants to evaluate their communication and questions asking skills	distribute the sheets with questions and answers ask the participants to read the questions carefully and choose the correct answers ask to discuss the results within the group and tell which answers are the best	30 min	Sheets with questions, pens, sheet of the best answers
Trainer input	To present to the participants the main aspects of conflict solving	Present to the participants: the definition of conflict the consequences of the conflicts the causes of the conflicts types of conflicts how to solve the conflict	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To strengthen the conflict solving skills of the participants	ask the participants to form small groups ask them to perform the conflict and to solve it ask to discuss the results within the group	20 min.	Sheets with the conflicts situations
Break			20 min.
Trainer’s input: mentoring tools	To introduce tools like contract, diary etc. and formal requirements	introduce materials (handout for participants)	20 min.	PPT presentation
Group work	To learn to prepare the mentoring contract	Ask participants to form small groups and to prepare the structure of mentoring contract Ask to present the results and discuss them with other groups.	30 min	Flip chart paper, pens
Trainer’s input	To acquaint the participants with the organisational aspects of first and last common meetings of mentors and mentees	Present the participants: The organisational aspects of first common meeting of mentors and mentees The organisational aspects of last common meeting of mentors and mentees	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To help the participants to prepare for the organising of the final meeting of the mentors and mentees at the end of mentoring process	Ask the participants to prepare the questions for the discussions during the final meeting of mentors and mentees Ask to present the results and discuss them with the group	30 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Trainer’s input	To present to the participants the monitoring process within the mentoring	To present: The purpose of monitoring within the mentoring process The methodology of monitoring The phases of the monitoring The monitoring tools	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Break			20 min.
Group work	To help the participants to prepare for the monitoring process within the social group mentoring	Ask the participants to form small groups Ask them to prepare the final monitoring questionnaire for the mentees Ask to present the results and discuss it within the group	30 min	Flip chart paper, pens
Evaluation	To evaluate the training session	ask participants to fill in the evaluation questionnaire	10 min.	Evaluation questionnaire
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the training	20 min.

Training for mentors

Aim: to prepare participants for their role as mentor in the group social mentoring process.

Learning outcomes:

To help the mentors to become acquainted with each other, to learn about the mentoring process, to get acquainted with their role as a mentor and to strengthen good listening, communication, conflict solving, suitable questions asking and leading skills.

Training for mentors should cover the following topics:

getting acquainted with the other mentors
expectations concerning the mentoring program
information about the mentoring program
guidelines for mentoring group meetings
mentor as a good listener, asking suitable questions, communicative, conflict solver and leader of the group
monitoring of the mentoring process
useful tools to support the mentoring process (contract, diary, minutes).

It is recommended to offer one training session of six hours.

For the training of the mentors the following session plan could be used:

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Introduction of the topics and presentation of training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to get acquainted with each other, to introduce the training. Introduction of participants personal and professional background experiences in mentoring, with the target group and with their situation	welcome participants present information	20 min.
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with the concept of the mentoring.	Give main definition and aims of mentoring and group social mentoring Present the roles and responsibilities of the 3M actors Acquaint with special needs of mentoring for single target group	40 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Individual work	To structure important information about the own life and to reflect expectations concerning the mentoring program.	Ask participants to write down on the cards their expectations concerning mentoring: why do I want to be a mentor, what do I expect in general what do I expect from the manager and the mentee what can I offer as a mentor what should not happen for sure what is my own benefit	30 min.	Cards on pin board
Group work	To cluster the results, find common answers and discuss the results	Ask participants to form small groups and to cluster the cards on pin board with the answers to the questions from the previous task Ask to present the results and discuss them with other groups	30 min	Cards on pin board
Break			20 min.
Trainer input	To acquaint the participants with the structure and methodology of the mentoring	Present to the participants: how to structure the mentoring process how to structure the single meetings timetable	20 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To strengthen the group work skills of the participants	Ask the participants: to form the groups of three to draw a big triangle on a flip chart paper to write their names by the corners of triangle to write the common things that connect all three members of the group in the middle of triangle to write the individual things outside the triangle by their names to present the results and discuss within the whole group	20 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Trainer’s input	To present to the participants the importance of good listening within the mentoring process.	Present to the participants: styles of listening the definition and the techniques of active listening the rules of proper listening	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To strengthen the skills of listening of the participants	ask the participants to form the groups of 3 persons first two minutes first person speaks, second listens and makes notes and third only listens after two minutes members of small groups change roles and continues work after other two minutes members change roles again and continues work ask participants to present other their group members and share with others which was the best technique of listening to her.	30 min	Plain sheets of paper for making notes, pens
Trainer’s input	To present to the participants the importance of communication and asking the correct questions when working with mentees and mentors.	Present to the participants: the definition of communication the importance of first impression the stages of communication attentive and inattentive behaviour rules of communication types of questions	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Break			20 min.
Individual work	To encourage the participants to think about similar or different values of people which connects or separates them	distribute the sheets with statements ask the participants to read the statements carefully and evaluate them in the scale 1-10 and then to choose 3 the most important statements to them ask to discuss the results within the group	20 min	Sheets with statements, pens
Trainer input	To present to the participants the main aspects of conflict solving	Present to the participants: the definition of conflict the consequences of the conflicts the causes of the conflicts types of conflicts how to solve the conflict	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To strengthen the conflict solving skills of the participants	ask the participants to form small groups ask them to perform the conflict and to solve it ask to discuss the results within the group	20 min.	Sheets with the conflicts situations
Trainer input	To present to the participants the work’s in with the mentoring group aspects	Present to the participants: how to structure the group meetings importance of setting the communication rules within the group	15 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Group work	To prepare for the work with the mentoring group	ask the participants to form small groups and to prepare the rules of communication within the mentoring group ask to present the results to the whole group and to discuss it.	25 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Trainer input: mentoring tools	To introduce tools like contract, diary, monitoring questionnaire etc. and formal requirements	introduce materials (handout for participants)	15 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Evaluation	To evaluate the training session	ask participants to fill in the evaluation questionnaire	5 min.	Evaluation questionnaire
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the training	10 min.

Training for mentees

Aim: to prepare participants for their role as mentee in a group social mentoring program.

Learning outcomes:

1^st training day: To help the mentees to become acquainted with each other and to build mutual trust.
2^nd training day: To help the participants to become acquainted with the mentoring program/process and their role as mentee as well as to strengthen their communication skills.
3^rd training day: To start the process of group building and to strengthen skills of mentees for communication within groups.

One specific element of group social mentoring is that an effective relationship has not only to be developed between mentor and mentee, but also between the mentees of one group. To be able to speak open about the situation of being social excluded, mutual trust is an essential pre-condition. Therefore, it is necessary that mentees have the possibility to get to know each other quite well. It is recommended to involve mentees in the group building process, and so experiencing themselves as actors - this is a good basis for taking over responsibility for the whole mentoring process later on. Nevertheless, it can be necessary that the final decision about the group stays within the responsibility of the manager.

The approach of the training is mainly interactive and self-reflective. This corresponds with the bottom-up approach of the LIGHT project, aiming at empowerment of the target groups. Following this approach, mentees and mentors share the responsibility for the success of the mentoring process equally. As this process is based on communication, it is essential to strengthen the corresponding skills of mentees.

Training for mentees should cover the following topics:

getting acquainted with the other mentees
building of groups for mentoring process
reflection of own vita
expectations concerning the mentoring program
information about the mentoring program
guidelines for mentoring group meetings
communication (esp. how to give feedback)
method “peer counselling”
useful tools to support the group social mentoring process (contract, diary, minutes).

It is recommended to offer three training sessions of four hours each.

1^st training day

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Introduction of the topics and presentation of training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to get acquainted with each other, to introduce the training.	welcome participants present information	10 min.
Icebreaker exercise	To help participants to become more acquainted with each other and to warm the atmosphere.	ask participants to write a character and a number that is important for them (example: “T” as the first character of their child’s name, “34” for their age) on a tape and put it on their shirt to build teams of two persons and try to find out what “T 34” means by asking questions, which can be answered with “yes” or “no”. introduce the partner to the whole group	50 min.	tape
Trainer (manager) input	To acquaint the participants with the concrete mentoring program.	give information concerning the mentoring program timetable role of manager	10 min.
“River of Life” (individual work) (group work)	To initiate an open reflection about the own life. To get to know each other.	ask participants to draw their life as a river (important steps, with pictures/drawings/colours, as personal as they like) and to present the pictures to each other in groups of 2-3 participants and ask questions to each other	50 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Break			20 min.
Preparation for short presentations (individual work)	To structure important information about the own life and to reflect expectations concerning the mentoring program.	Ask participants to write down on flip chart paper the most important steps of their life their expectations for the mentoring program their wishes and aims for the mentoring program	10 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Presentations	To get to know each other more deeply and to practice presentations skills.	Ask participants to present the result in front of the group (3 min. each presentation) and to answer questions	80 min.	Flip chart
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants.	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the first training day and give an outlook for the second day	10 min.

2^nd training day

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Presentation of 2^nd day training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to introduce the training.	welcome participants present information	10 min.
Clarification of role as mentee and expectations (group work)	To clear up expectations and fears.	present the following half sentences on pin board “From my mentor I expect that…” “My mentor can expect from me that…” “Not in any case should happen that…” ask participants to form three groups and make suggestions for completing one sentence per group on the pin board ask each group to complete the results of the two other groups moderate the discussion of results	60 min.	Three pin boards (one for each sentence), pens
Meeting guideline (group work)	To develop guidelines for the meetings of social mentoring groups as responsibility of the mentees.	ask the participants to divide into four groups and to discuss how a meeting could proceed and how commitment can be established ask the groups to present their results (5 min. each) moderate and summarise the discussion of results	50 min.	Flip chart paper, pens
Break			20 min.
Trainer’s input and team work	To train mentees in how to prepare communication rules within mentoring group.	trainer input on PPT (communication rules) divide the group in small teams ask the teams to prepare the communication rules in the mentoring group moderate the presentation of results	60 min.	PPT presentation, laptop and beamer
Reflection	To give the mentees the opportunity to reflect on the impact the training had for their expectations.	ask the participants how their expectations concerning the mentoring process are now how they would like to implement the mentoring process with their group and mentor how they feel about the mentoring now	30 min.
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the 2^nd training day and give an outlook for the 3^rd day	10 min.

3^rd training day

Activity	Purpose	Task for trainer	Time	Resources needed
Welcome Presentation of 3^rd day training aim and agenda	To welcome the participants, to introduce the training.	welcome participants present information	10 min.
Group building process	Development of criteria for group building	ask participants to name criteria for group building (e.g. similarity of problems, similarity or mixture of age, ethnic background etc.) (brainstorming) ask participants to agree on the three most important criteria ask participants to build groups (three times, each time following one of the three criteria): which group constellation felt the best?	60 min.	Flip chart
Trainer input peer counselling	To acquaint the participants with the method peer counselling.	trainer input: method peer counselling	30 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Break			20 min.
Training exercise “peer counselling”	To gain experiences with the method peer counselling.	ask five participants to do the training exercise in the middle of the group (trainer as moderator, choose one case member) ask the other participants to monitor the training exercise ask the training exercise group members how they felt ask the other participants for their feedback	70 min. (exercise) 20 min. (reflection, feedback)	Exercise “peer counselling”
Trainer input: mentoring tools	To introduce tools like contract, diary etc. and formal requirements	introduce materials (handout for participants)	15 min.	PPT presentation, laptop, beamer
Evaluation	To evaluate the training session	ask participants to fill in the evaluation questionnaire	5 min.	Evaluation questionnaire
Closing, feedback	To close the training and get feedback from participants	ask participants for feedback and open questions summarise the training	10 min.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible
for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.