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If you've lived and learned, there are probably people on the site who could benefit from your wisdom. Don't keep it all locked up inside your head - share it with others who might benefit from hearing how you've handled something, managed something or achieved something. It's a great way to volunteer and give something back, and it's a really meaningful way to enjoy communicating online. It requires only that you take it seriously and are ready to participate in the community.
Signup as a member first, then complete and submit your mentor profile (we approve them all before posting) to become registered as a mentor, and for others to view your mentor profile and contact you as a mentor.
facebook with a conscience
horsesmouth.co.uk, the world’s first ‘pro-social’ networking site, went live on January 16. The website, which is a brilliant idea, is purpose-built for online mentoring on a wide range of topics including education, careers, health, families and relationships. It's available to anyone aged 16 or over, absolutely free, and it allows users to anonymously share their own experiences and advice on a safe and moderated platform.
With millions of people already using online forums such as Facebook and MySpace to exchange music, pictures and gossip, horsesmouth encourages users to share more meaningful knowledge for the benefit of others. An online survey conducted by tickbox.net in February 2007 revealed that while most people would like to give up some of their time each week to help others, many do not know how to or are too busy to commit to formal volunteering charities. horsesmouth allows users to volunteer by sharing their life experiences with others from the comfort of their own homes.
Users can mentor each other on virtually any topic. Anybody seeking advice on how to land their dream job, find learn to cope with a health problem or start a business will only need to type in a few words into the site’s search engine to be presented with a list of other users who have been through the same experience and are willing to share it.
Although most of the mentors on the site will come through normal web traffic, horsesmouth will also host partner organisations on the site. For partners, this is a great opportunity to extend the reach of existing mentoring and advice services, create new links between members or fulfill corporate social responsibility or volunteering commitments. horsesmouth will profile the partner and link to the partners’ own online resources and information. For horsesmouth members, badged mentors are an excellent source of specific personal expertise from individuals associated with known and trusted organisations.
Charter launch partners on the site are:
• Edge
• everywoman
• Make Your Mark
• Media Trust
• Mentoring and Befriending Foundation (MBF)
• National Advertising Benevolence Society (NABS)
• National Union of Students (NUS)
• TimeBank
• Tomorrow’s Company
• Youthnet
• Women’s Aid
The site is looking for partner organisations right now, so if you know anyone or would like to be part of the site, get in touch with them!
Thousands of people have already volunteered to act as mentors on the test) site. One mentor, a 59-year-old male called Strategist, writes on his profile:
“I have been an insulin-dependent diabetic for 52 years. I have refused to allow it to constrain my achievements - but recognise that it has been, and is, a condition which is a source of uncertainty and stress for those closest to me, and without whose support I could not have done so much.”
Another mentor calls herself ‘Felicity’. Her profile reads:
“I've been a career coach to managers for 10 years and am good at asking the right questions to help people decide whether to move on, stay in their job, look for another job or go off in a completely direction.”
In contrast to many other Web 2.0 sites, horsesmouth users have to leave their looks behind: profiles do not contain photographs or real names, but make use of proprietary technology that allows users to embed their user names into a range of images to create personal branding. Tools have been created to rate and reward mentors, and to report and block inappropriate behaviour.
Content is professionally moderated by horsesmouth staff and all profiles are approved before posting, as are web links. In order to register in the first place a secure code is sent to your
mobile, which is a deterrent to people who want to use multiple identities or who have previously been blocked.
horsesmouth is the brainchild of advertising entrepreneur and prominent media industry figure MT (Mary Teresa) Rainey, who co-founded the top five advertising agency Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R. She is a founding trustee of TimeBank, a Trustee of Demos, a non-executive director of WH Smith Plc and a Visiting Professor at Glasgow University. She is also a member of the Skills Commission.
“I really believe that the knowledge and experience people carry around with them is a huge untapped resource,” says Rainey. “If eBay is about the stuff you’ve got locked up in the attic, then horsesmouth is about the stuff you’ve got locked up in your head and heart.”
“I’ve always believed in the power of mentoring but it’s been so hard to scale. Now with the social web we can do that. horsesmouth is about making that experience safe, easy and enjoyable.”
The horsesmouth community is growing swiftly and the site has been named as one of the top 25 ‘Web 2.0’ start-ups in the UK last year by The Register. The site will be run as a social enterprise, with all profits generated being driven back into the business. The site is funded by Edge, the foundation raising the status of practical and vocational learning, and v, the charity launched to champion youth volunteering in England.
The horsesmouth web platform was developed by Locayta with design and user interface by Splendid. Partnership design and marketing is handled by Public Zone and Chief Technical Consultant is Ben Way of Rainmakers.
