Press Release

Interdepartmental Forum

20.12.07

The value and importance of mentoring and befriending and the role of MBF in influencing policy decisions were outlined to senior civil servants at an Interdepartmental Forum held recently at The Office of the Third Sector in London.  It provided an opportunity for MBF to outline its work to officials across several government departments from Communities and Local Government to Revenue and Customs; Children, Schools and Families; H M Treasury; Work and Pensions and Food and Rural Affairs.

The Forum was chaired by John Knights from the Cabinet Office and presentations were made by MBF Chief Executive Peter Collins, Deputy Chief Executive Steve Matthews (Quality and Standards), and the National Peer Mentoring Pilot Project Manager, Ben McGrath.

Discussion took place around how mentoring and befriending could help meet Departmental objectives and other priorities. The group heard a presentation from James Cathcart about the work of Rainer on the DCSF “Looked-After Children” pilot study.  The Forum will continue to meet to discuss the role of mentoring in supporting government policy aims. 

MBF will host a major event at The Palace of Westminster at the end of January at which mentees and befriendees will invite their constituency MPs to hear more about how mentoring and/or befriending has made a difference in their lives.