M-T1-SP-08 · Detailed guide · Theme 1

Community Leadership Partnership

Pair Rotary's convening capacity with credible community leaders to mentor emerging leaders and advance a locally chosen challenge.

Where this idea came from

Playbook entry
M-T1-SP-08 · Community Leadership Partnership
Theme
Theme 1: Attraction & Visibility · Subtheme SP: Strategic Partnerships
Source material
Existing checked Theme 1 guide
Linked playbook entry
M-T1-SP-08 · Community Leadership Partnership

Why a club might use this

Leadership capability is strengthened around real community work, with access widened beyond established institutional networks.

Use it when

  • Established and emerging community leaders, Aboriginal and culturally diverse leaders, civic organisations and Rotary mentors. Use when a community challenge would benefit from cross-sector leadership and trusted convenors.

Before the club starts

  • Transparent leader-selection criteria and outreach beyond existing Rotary contacts.
  • A community-approved challenge brief with cultural and accessibility considerations.
  • Mentoring boundaries, complaints route, conflicts register and participant consent.

Capacity guide

Likely cost
$$
Lead time
4-6 weeks
People
3-5 members

How to put it into practice

Detailed implementation steps for Community Leadership Partnership
StepActionSuggested owner
1Co-design the leadership challenge with people affected by it.Community partner
2Recruit a balanced mentor and participant cohort against published criteria.Cohort coordinator
3Agree learning goals, decision rights and respectful-engagement norms.Programme facilitator
4Support mixed teams to deliver a small challenge response.Team mentors
5Showcase learning and transfer ongoing ownership to the appropriate body.Community sponsor

Controls and safeguards

  • Do not use political office, Rotary membership or personal profile as an implied selection entitlement.
  • Apply cultural safety, anti-discrimination, accessibility and safeguarding controls to all participation.
  • Medium — opaque selection, power imbalance and unsafe mentoring can exclude or harm intended participants.

What to measure

  • Cohort reflects the communities relevant to the challenge.

Follow-up: Hold 30- and 90-day mentor check-ins, track whether outputs are adopted, and invite community partners to shape any subsequent cohort.

Related playbook entries

  • M-T1-SP-25
  • M-T1-SP-27
  • M-T1-CL-08

Before your club says yes

Does the idea fit?

Talk with the people it is meant to serve and check that the need is real.

Who can say yes?

Name the person or group that can approve the work, spending and any safety arrangements.

Are people protected?

Check privacy, consent and safety. Collect only the information you genuinely need.

Can everyone take part?

Check the language, format, place, technology and cost for barriers.

Are the facts and permissions right?

Check names, claims, images, quotations, partner references and Rotary branding.

How will we learn?

Note where things stand now, check in at 30, 60 and 90 days, and decide what to do next.