MENTORING AND POLITICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Our award winning programme combines a ten month long mentoring programme with political education and training, comprising of a series of linked events that encourage the development of a peer network alongside the one-on-one mentoring relationship. With a thriving alumni network of over 200 women, the benefits of being accepted on to this scheme certainly don't stop when the structured programme ends.
WHAT OUR MENTEES SAY
Priscilla, cohort 6
For me, the Fabian Women Mentoring Programme was truly transformational.
Not only did I build an exceptional network of phenomenal women, but in getting to know them and gaining access to some of my heroes in the world of politics, the programme provoked powerful and important questions for me to answer about my values and political convictions.
Rachael, cohort 1
The FWN programme has found a way to support women from across the country, from across differences in faith, ethnicity, age, sexuality and class and given us the tools to make our voices count.
Shaista, cohort 6
This scheme totally demystified power and politics for me, and helped me understand even more clearly why women with intersectional identities are still missing from the hallways, corridors, rooms and chambers in the House of Commons and local government. We are locked out from these spaces because of structural inequalities that exist in wider society.
APPLYING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Applications for the tenth cohort closed on 6th September 2020.
Applicants must have joined the Fabian Society for their application to be considered. There is no minimum time you need to have been a member prior to application.
We recommend a minimum age of 21 and there is no upper age limit. We’ve had mentees from aged 21 to 64.
We welcome applications from all parts of the UK and though the majority have come from London, we’ve had mentees from Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland and every region of England.
The application process is competitive with about four applications for every place. It is purely written. We don’t carry out interviews and there’s no model person we are looking for. This is however a programme for people who have started a political or public life journey and though you may well change direction, it is not a career advice exercise.
The programme lasts 10 months and includes both compulsory and optional events. A half day induction, a day in Parliament, a visit to a devolved parliament, a speed networking evening, a half day visit to Labour HQ and a 30 hour personal skills workout in Northern College are compulsory.
There’s a wide range of other events tailored to the needs of each cohort including media skills, debating, public speaking, speech writing, networking and campaigning.
Many mentees combine the programme with a full time job or study as well as family demands.
There is no charge for joining the programme though you need to commit time and for there are some travel costs. Mentees living outside of London can apply for a travel bursary.
After being accepted onto the programme we match mentees with a mentor from a wide pool of 70 mentors.