Looking for a mentor? 9 schemes supporting underrepresented creatives

Discipline: Advertising and Media
Location: UK

Set up in response to the lack of diverse representation in media, Media For All helps creatives from underrepresented backgrounds thrive. Alongside events, they have a brilliant list of industry role models who are contactable for mentoring via their page.

Their mission is to publicise the industry as a place for all young talent to thrive, recruit better representation, support talent in the early stages of their careers and provide access to senior industry contacts.

Discipline: Creative
Location: UK

Addressing the lack of diversity within the creative and tech industries, Creative Equals holds courses, workshops and a leadership programme called Creative Equals – supporting and mentoring 30 people stepping into leadership roles with the industry’s multicultural best.

Discipline: Creative
Location: UK

Launched to support people form underrepresented groups, Creative Breakthrough is a mentoring programme that aims to help nurture the next generation of Black, Asian and minority ethic leaders and improve diversity within the creative industry.

This is an opportunity to connect with those who’ve been there and done it, hear about their experiences and learn how they tackled situations.

Discipline: Fashion and media
Location: UK

Founded by Kenya Hunt in 2015, R.O.O.M. is a grassroots mentoring initiative that aims to increase diversity in the fashion and media industries. It was set up after Kenya realised the urgent need to help students and entry-level professionals of colour get a foot on the career ladder and progress within the fashion industry.

R.O.O.M.’s mentees have gone on to secure roles at The Telegraph, Grazia, Vogue, Glamour, Refinery29, The Sunday Times Style, Farfetch and more.

Discipline: Creative
Location: Amsterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Berlin

A creative industry mentorship project, Routes In has been created to open up the creative industry in the hopes of making it more inclusive and diverse by supporting every route to success.

There are opportunities for young talent to find a mentor, seek immediate guidance or advice, and attend events.

Discipline: Film
Location: UK

Created to address the lack of representation of crew from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds within the advertising production industry, the No Trace initiative supports and offer opportunities in the form of mentoring and short-term paid roles in junior, trainee, assistant and entry-level positions.

They are currently looking for people interested in junior, entry-level, trainee or assistant roles on short-term advertising shoots across various departments including camera, sound and editing to costume, make-up and post-production.

Discipline: Writing
Location: UK

Bloomsbury Publishing is one of the UK’s leading publishers of fiction – aiming to publish stories that represent the diversity of people in this country. With many barriers for underrepresented groups, they want to change the future of publishing by supporting writers with workshops on topics such as how to pitch your book, how to use social media, and more.

Discipline: Cross-discipline (not just creative)
Location: UK

With an aim to develop trust, build on experience and promote self-confidence, Joined Up Thinking empowers young people to stand out and reach their potential. They help to create a comfortable and conducive environment that encourages young people to actively listen, be heard, develop and gain empowerment.

Their mentoring opportunities are open to all, but focus on young people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds aged 11 to 25.

Discipline: Creative
Location: London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside

Arts Emergency is an award-winning mentoring charity and support network working with underrepresented groups across London, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Their mentorship programme offers the chance to connect with cultural professionals and gain experience, support, and confidence that would otherwise be exclusive to 'who-you-know' networks.