The IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme matches women mentors and mentees from the maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) sector. The scheme is kindly funded in 2024 by The Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS).

It is intended to give women, who are already working or volunteering in maritime SAR, as well those thinking about getting involved in the sector, the opportunity to be mentored by other more experienced women. You can register at IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentoring registration form.

Background information

The first round of the #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme was completed in 2021, and we are looking for people to join us for the next one. Each round will last for 6 months, during which 3-6 Mentor/Mentee meetings will be expected to take place. We are planning to start a new intake every six months. 

Applications will be accepted throughout the year, but the cycles will commence with the Mentor/Mentee pairs being matched twice a year, in February and August. New mentoring cycles then begin in March and September. The IMRF will pair Mentors and Mentees based on their application form responses, including their language capabilities and themes they wish to explore. 

For potential mentees, this is a great opportunity for you to connect with a mentor who can offer insight and advice – to help you at the start of your career, navigate the next stage of your career, or help you fulfill your volunteer aspirations.  

For potential mentors, this is a brilliant opportunity to give something back and refine your own skills. 

Please note – participation in this scheme is only for women aged 18 or over. Mentors need to be from an IMRF Member Organisation, whereas Mentees are accepted from other organisations as well.

What do the Participants Say?

Mentoring Cycle in a Nutshell

Each cycle will start with a kickoff meeting for the Mentors, after which the Mentor contacts their assigned Mentee. In the first meeting the Mentor and the Mentee will get to know each other, and in collaboration agree on how they will work together, building a plan to include frequency of meetings, timings, content and what they would like to work on.

We are expecting approximately one meeting per month. All meetings will be online over a platform such as Zoom or Teams. 

The IMRF will contact the Mentors throughout the programme to see how it’s progressing and offer support. Mentors and the Mentees will be invited to participate in an end-of-programme meeting and are sent a feedback form. They are also asked if they would like to continue with a new Mentor or Mentee.

The Mentoring Scheme is administered by the IMRF with the help of two volunteer organisers. 

Mentees

A Mentee is someone who has identified specific personal or professional goals and who believes that the guidance and help of a Mentor can help them achieve their goals.

After completing the registration form, we will start a selection and matching process to put you in contact with a suitable Mentor. If no suitable Mentor is found, your application is automatically transferred to the next programme. The scheme is voluntary and relies on the participation of both parties to work successfully.

Mentors

A Mentor is a person who has professional and life experience and who voluntarily agrees to help a Mentee develop skills, competencies, or work towards goals. Mentoring is about listening and encouraging, rather than telling your Mentee exactly what they need to do. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, give guidance and help your Mentee get a new perspective on their challenges as well as offer encouragement and listen with compassion. Of course, the mentoring relationship is two-way, and you will also have an opportunity to develop your skills as well as learn something!

Skills you can develop as a Mentor:

• Communication and listening
• Guiding and empowering others to reach their goals
• Empathy and understanding other points of view
• Relationship building

All Mentors need to be part of an IMRF member organisation. Once you’ve been accepted as an IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentor, we’ll start matching you with a Mentee. If no suitable Mentee is found, your application is automatically transferred to the next intake.

You will be invited to attend a Mentor Kick-Off meeting, providing some tips for mentoring and answering potential remaining questions. In the first meeting, you and your Mentee are expected to form a plan on how often you meet (we recommend 4-6 times during the six-month cycle). During the cycle we will send you two brief surveys to keep up-to-date on how the scheme is progressing. At the end of the 6 months there is meeting for Mentors and Mentees which will help us build on the process moving forward and hear about your experiences.

In addition to holding online meetings with your matched Mentee, you are expected to provide the Mentee with a confidential environment to talk about any expectations, anxieties and concerns they might have about their current or future career path and/or volunteering goals. You are also expected to support the Mentee to identify their own goals and aims by questioning and listening, as well as support the Mentee to develop a plan which works towards these goals.

Registration

To register your interest in the scheme, please complete the IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentoring registration form.

By applying to the scheme, you consent to us using and keeping this information for the purpose of administering the IMRF #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme, and you warrant that all data is correct.

If you have any questions about the #WomenInSAR Mentoring Scheme, or would like more information on our wider #WomenInSAR project, please contact Jaakko Heikkilä at [email protected].