The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have launched an exciting new national partnership with the Mosaic Initiative at The Prince’s Trust. The partnership will provide a fresh new cohort of volunteering opportunities to MHCLG staff across the country and help us to connect more young people to more relatable role models moving forward. The partnership will have the added value of taking policy makers into the communities they impact as well as helping promote the civil service as a viable future employer to diverse communities across the UK.
MHCLG lead the way as the first civil service department to embark on such a volunteer partnership with The Prince’s Trust, and we hope many more will follow.
The partnership was marked by a launch event held by MHCLG at their London offices yesterday in Westminster. The event saw a number of staff in attendance and featured a number of special guests including MHCLG Permanent Secretary Melanie Dawes, CEO of The Prince’s Trust Nick Stace and Chair of Mosaic Shabir Randeree CBE. Mosaic Ambassador and BBC Radio 4’s Mishal Husain conducted a special panel discussion including Mosaic former mentee Asha Hasan, Mosaic Mentor Jazibah Ali and Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO of the Mulberry Academies Trust and Head Teacher of Mulberry Girls’ School.
Dr Ogden, talking about her schools experience with Mosaic, said:
“We’ve been involved with Mosaic almost since the very beginning in 2007. What is really important, particularly to our young people now is that ‘you can’t be it if you don’t see it’. This is important for young people from any group or background, to be able to see and imagine themselves there because they have seen others that have trodden that part successfully and have that wisdom to share that experience through their mentoring.”
Dr Vanessa Ogden, CEO of the Mulberry Academies Trust and Head Teacher of Mulberry Girls’ School
Former Mosaic mentee, Asha Hasan said:
“I took part in Mosaic quite a few years ago now and at the time I didn’t realize the level of impact it was having on me. Before going through the programme I had a lot of magnitude but no real direction. I knew I wanted to do something but I didn’t know where I was going to go with all the energy or where to channel it. Mosaic gave me the opportunity to meet the incredible role models I wouldn’t have otherwise had access to myself.”
Asha Hassan, Mosaic Mentee
Speaking of the new partnership Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration, Nizam Uddin said:
“Mosaic are looking forward to this exciting new partnership with MHCLG and hopeful for what it can achieve. Their commitment and involvement with Mosaic will been instrumental in our mission of connecting more young people to more relatable role models throughout the country. We hope this will lead to more civil service departments following suit.
To help give young people the confidence to visualise success in a form that they can both relate, and aspire to. Thank you for helping make a real difference, enabling more of them to succeed and fulfil their potentials.”
Nizam Uddin, Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration
The new partnership between the department and the Mosaic Initiative will focus of the Mosaic Secondary School Mentoring Programme. This mentoring programme involves small groups of mentors working with small groups of students aged 11-18 for a maximum of 16 hours across an academic year.
The programme uses positive role models to improve students’ confidence, self-efficacy and employability. A range of activities are undertaken that enhance students’ abilities to compete in future educational and professional environments, with support tailored to support the students’ needs. All mentors receive training, support and guidance throughout.
(Left to Right:) Melanie Dawes, Nick Stace, Jazibah Ali, Vanessa Ogden, Asha Hasan, Mishal Husain and Shabir Randeree CBE
To explore mentoring opportunities with Mosaic at The Prince’s Trust email:mosaic@princes-trust.org.uk
