MEGAN POLICY REFERENCE GROUPS Linda Pizani Williams EISS This project has been funded with support from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS ( ). For more information see The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the position or opinion of the European Commission.

CONTEXT PROGRESS programme is intended to test innovative ideas to combat social exclusion. If interventions are successful, to what extent they can be upscaled and/or transferred to other policy areas. Policy Reference Groups are the vehicle for upscaling or transferring innovation.

Establishing a Policy Reference Group Engaging relevant actors Presenting the benefits of mentoring How it can impact on different target groups What is needed to make it happen How to evaluate the impact What support is needed and available

Challenges Familiar concept used in several policy areas – i.e. what’s new? (UK) Public sector and financial constraints limit participation in new developments Unrealistic expectations Need to identify best practice (Quality Standards) Need to demonstrate effectiveness

What Has Been Achieved UK – brought together NGO sector and Cabinet Office (cross government department unit) Portugal – assigned specific roles to PRG members; training the trainer courses for Red Cross, Prison staff and others with different target groups Hungary - identified key issues and engaged mentors and local professionals in joint problem solving

Lessons Learned No clear or common definition of mentoring Identify need and raise awareness Personal model to respond to need Mentors benefit as much as mentees Training is a key element Needs sustained funding Need to evaluate to demonstrate impact

Personal Perspectives PORTUGAL –MARIA SIMOES – Portuguese Red Cross HUNGARY –EMOKE BOTH – BAGazs PBA UK –DARREN COYNE – The Care Leavers Assn