Building the bridge: the Creative Mentor Network looks back on its first three years

- Words by Anthony 

When Isabel Farchy conceived the idea for Creative Mentor Network in 2014, her aim was to break down the recruitment barrier that existed between the creative industries and talented young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds – in other words, to do something about the middle-class monopoly on creative careers.

Through partnering with creative organisations and schools, and bringing the two together via a meaningful mentoring relationships, Isabel believed that she could help 16–19-year-olds who had the talent and tenacity to make it in the creative sector, but lacked the existing networks or understanding of the creative labour market that would get them through the door in the first place. With the organisation standing to benefit from both CSR and creative perspective and the mentor having an opportunity to develop their own personal leadership skills, it seemed like a win-win idea.

At this point, you might be wondering: how’s it going? So was Isabel, which is why the Creative Mentor Network has just released its first Impact Report – a detailed assessment of the effect of the charity’s work on the schools, students, businesses and mentors that have signed up so far; and, in effect, an answer to the question: is the programme working?

We’re not giving away too much if we say: yes, yes it is.

So far, the Creative Mentor Network has partnered with 25 schools to set up more than 100 young people with mentors;  recruited and trained more than 100 mentors from more than 30 brands, including Airbnb, Lucky Generals, M&C Saatchi, It's Nice That and Moo; seen 82% of its mentees graduate the programme with at least two new professional connections, and 37% of them go onto further work experience or full-time employment in the creative sector. Rasheka, one of the first students to go through the programme, is now a Broadcast Assistant at the BBC. Another, Momina, has become a trustee of Creative Mentor Network.

A pretty inspiring record of what was, until recently, a one-woman band. Now, however, the Creative Mentor Network is expanding its team to build on this success, aiming to double its students and mentor intake, connect with more schools and organisations, and, ultimately, extend the network beyond London to the UK’s other creative hubs.

There is, of course, a long way to go before the creative sector is a genuinely diverse employment environment and opportunities are truly equal, but the Creative Mentor Network is definitely getting some of the groundwork done. If the pattern suggested by its first Impact Report continues, the next one will be even more impressive.

The 2017 Impact Report is available to view on the Creative Mentor Network’s website.