Supporting you on your leadership journey

Welcome to North Yorkshire’s voluntary, community and social enterprise Leadership Hub. Whether you’re already leading an organisation or taking your first steps into a leadership role, this hub brings together support, learning and connections to help you grow with confidence.

You’ll find practical resources to strengthen your strategic thinking, decision-making and leadership skills, alongside tailored support for trustees, managers and boards. From mentoring and peer learning to shared experiences with others facing similar challenges, we help leaders feel supported and less isolated.

You can get involved in our Leadership Mentoring programme, delivered with our partner Coaching York, join our Chief Executives peer group, or explore our leadership resource library. Each offer is designed to help you build skills, grow your network and develop lasting peer support.

Four adults sit in a circle having a discussion. One man gestures while speaking, and the others listen and take notes. A notebook, mug, and laptop are on the table in front of them. The setting appears to be a casual meeting room.

Three older adults, two men and one woman, stand indoors by large windows, smiling and talking. The setting is a modern, casual office with natural light, brick walls, and comfortable seating.

Become the leader you want to be

The programme is a leadership development opportunity for people working or volunteering in voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in North Yorkshire. We want to support new leaders and emerging leaders to grow and realise their potential, with the aim of strengthening organisations and our communities.

We provide you with an experienced mentor and offer a safe space for reflection, support or planning over a period of six months.

Mentoring is a relationship where one person gives time voluntarily to support another.

The mentor brings their knowledge and experience, together with their ability to listen and ask questions, to help you move forward with organisational issues you wish to address.

Who is the mentoring for?

New and emerging leaders in the VCSE sector in North Yorkshire
You might be employed by a charity or organisation, or be a volunteer or trustee
Leaders who have recently moved to a new or more senior role
Leaders who are new to the voluntary sector or who are new to North Yorkshire.

We envisage emerging leaders as those with 3-6 years’ experience leading teams, projects, volunteers. If you don’t quite fit this criteria, but still think you could benefit from the Leadership Mentoring programme, please get in touch leadership@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk or call 01904 704177 if you have any questions.

How does it work?

We have a range of mentors and we will match your mentoring needs with our experienced sector leaders. All our mentors are trained by Coaching York and are offered ongoing professional support.

Things to know

Before the programme starts you will need to attend a training session with Coaching York to discuss what to expect from the programme and your mentor.
The mentoring will run for six months, and you will meet once a month with your mentor for an hour.
There will be an online mid-point evaluation and an online end of programme event for all mentees.
Following the six months mentoring programme you will be given the opportunity to join a peer learning group to continue your learning and we will let you know about further learning opportunities.
There is no cost for this programme.

Read our programme Q&A

Get the lowdown on the programme

Great leaders aren’t born – they developed! Being a leader can be a challenge and even the most experience professional benefits from a bit of guidance – there’s always something to learn, whether as a mentor or a mentee.

To explain more about the programme and answer a myriad of questions, Mike Hickman, Leadership Development and Training Manager at Community First Yorkshire, takes a deep dive with this Q&A.

How to apply - submissions for the next round are now open!

We have now opened applications for the next cohort of leadership mentors and mentees. The programme runs from February to July 2026.

Closing date for applications for mentors is Wednesday 21 January. Please apply here.
Closing date for applications for mentees is Friday 30 January. Please apply here.

At the start of the cohort, mentors and mentees are invited to a (separate) training workshop run by our partners, Coaching York on 11 February.

If you have any questions please contact leadership@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

Be inspired by what our mentors and mentees say

Don’t just take our word for it about how great our Leadership Mentoring programme is. Hear what our mentors and mentees have to say themselves.