Connecting Diverse Voices: A mutual mentoring programme
Connecting Diverse Voices (CDV) is a cross-government mutual mentoring programme seeking to amplify the diversity of voices within the Government Communication Service (GCS), by partnering senior leaders with diverse colleagues. The programme is only open to GCS members.
Aims of the programme
The programme aims to increase confidence across the GCS in championing all areas of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) by matching a senior leader with a volunteer, who has knowledge or experience of important EDI topics. The senior leader, in turn, will offer guidance on leadership, career progression and development.
Although the programme mainly aims to facilitate conversations between partners, we also encourage participants to work towards a legacy project such as the soon-to-be-published Marathoner’s Toolkit. The toolkit will bring together all Civil Service development schemes into one place, improving access and assisting existing diverse staff with their professional development.
Why take part ?
In this video, Champions of the Connecting Diverse Voices mutual mentoring programme describe the aims of the programme, and participants share what they learned and why they recommend taking part.
Watch the video about Connecting Diverse Voices, (1 minute 38). You can open the transcript once on YouTube.
Mutual mentoring
Mutual mentoring is a partnership where volunteers help senior leaders to develop self-confidence and knowledge of EDI. The senior leaders, in turn, share their experience, learning and ideas, and support the volunteers in their career development.
Eligibility
Diversity goes beyond visible differences. It encompasses a wide range of experiences and identities, including:
- job-shares
- disability
- LGBTQ+ ( lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender)
- Ethnic minority experiences
- socio-economic backgrounds
- regional staff
- ageism
- mental health
- care leavers
- carers
- gender
- apprentices
Embracing these diverse perspectives makes our teams stronger. It means more ideas and views are brought into conversations so that we can create better communications that really reflect the experiences of our audiences.
Getting matched
Matches are made based on information provided in the joining survey. Senior leaders identify areas of equality, diversity and inclusion they know less about and, wherever possible, are matched with a volunteer that has the experience and/or expertise in one or more of those areas.
Duration and commitment
The programme duration is typically 6 months.
The time commitment is an hour session once a month. Conversations can be face to face or via phone/video.
How to sign up
If you are a Grade 7 and above please sign up here. Senior sign up closes on 17th October.
Junior sign up will start on 10th October.
We look forward to you joining this amazing programme.
If you are interested in participating in the 2024 programme, would like to volunteer to help run it or have any other queries, contact: connectingdiversevoices@gmail.com.