The launch of the second year of the Fabian Women’s Network mentoring scheme took place last week. It was a fantastic day for all our new mentees, one of whom describes the experience below.
All our thanks to Christine Megson, who runs the scheme, and to Caroline Adams for their hard work. We are delighted it is a success and we want to see our mentees succeed and fulfill their dreams!
You can follow their journey on our website. Enjoy!
For more information about FWN activities, campaigns and research projects: fabianwomen@fabian-society.org.uk
FWN mentoring scheme: the first day!
By Felicity Slater
While the afternoon sun was shining outside, 20 women ventured with purpose and anticipation into the recesses of Parliament. The second year of the Fabian Women’s Network mentoring programme was about to begin.
Upon arrival into a small chamber off Westminster Hall, each of us eagerly opened our pack to find out who would be mentoring us. From an amazing range of current and former parliamentarians, there was no room for disappointment!
Seema Malhotra MP formally kicked off the afternoon, welcoming us onto the scheme. Each mentee then presented herself – with the aid of an object she’d brought along, from books to trophies. All were immediately impressed by just how great our mentee peers are: the cohort is made up of women from right across Britain with different levels of experience and all manner of professional backgrounds.
Moving across Westminster Palace, we spent the rest of the afternoon in the rather more opulent Shadow Cabinet room, where a number of speakers came to see us: MPs Meg Munn, Roberta Blackman-Woods and Kate Green called in, along with the Fabians’ Andrew Harrop and Marcus Roberts, and Nan Sloane of Labour Women’s Network. We even got an impromptu visit from Eds Miliband and Balls.
From just a few hours spent together, there is a real sense of anticipation and enthusiasm about what we can achieve both together as a group and with our individual mentors. It is a very exciting opportunity and we all look forward to the next 12 months and beyond, adding to the rich history of inspiring contributions women have made to the Labour movement.
