Member Support Mentors

What could this idea change?

It helps knowledge, confidence and encouragement move between members instead of resting with a few people.

It may suit: Members seeking guidance or a new challenge, and the people offering practical support.

A simple way to start

1. Write a decision brief for Member Support Mentors: define which mentors are suitable and what support they may provide, the evidence already held, people affected, local authority, fixed constraints, success signals and stop conditions. Who could lead it: Member-care coordinator and governance sponsor
2. Agree role boundaries, referral and emergency routes before contact; let the member choose channel, frequency, information and support; and collect only what the club genuinely needs. Who could lead it: Member-care coordinator and governance sponsor with the access and privacy contacts
3. Build and test trained member supporters providing bounded listening and practical connection; use the Member Support Mentor Agreement, rehearse the boundary wording, check materials and confirm who can decide, refer, pause or close the activity. Who could lead it: Trained contact person or pair
4. Use a short permission-led contact, listen without diagnosing, offer only verified practical options, escalate immediate danger to emergency services and transfer professional matters with consent where possible. Capture only the evidence needed to judge whether the trial achieved its stated aim: offer a known human contact while directing specialist needs appropriately. Who could lead it: Trained contact person or pair
5. Analyse the evidence against the starting point, validate meaning with the people involved, record exceptions and unintended effects, and prepare a screened mentor pool, agreements and supervision record without overstating what the trial proves. Who could lead it: Trained contact person or pair and an independent reviewer

What should we look for?

• After 90 days, review Member Support Mentors. Look for timely contact that the member welcomes, agreed support being delivered and sensitive matters being handled only by the right people.
• Member Support Mentors produces a screened mentor pool, agreements and supervision record by the promised decision date, with evidence limitations and any participation gaps stated.
• The member controls contact, information, practical support and any club adjustment, with refusals and pauses respected.
• Every urgent or specialist matter follows the approved emergency or referral route without volunteer diagnosis or treatment.
• Contact records are minimal, restricted, reviewed and closed; no sensitive detail appears in ordinary minutes, rosters or social channels.

Before we say yes

• Does it fit a real local need?
• Can people take part safely and fairly?
• Are the facts, permissions and Rotary branding right?
• Who will lead it, and when will we review it?