Taking part in the John Schofield Trust’s mentoring schemes allow mentors and mentees to learn from each other and share experiences about a rapidly changing industry. We are committed to increasing the diversity of newsrooms. Volunteer and support us to achieve this vision.

How you can support us

Volunteers play a huge role in the life of the John Schofield Trust. We are always on the lookout for more volunteers, so please let us know if you would be interested. We currently have a number of opportunities that you might be interested in.

Mentor on the early career and apprentice mentoring scheme

We are looking for experienced journalists from across the UK to work as volunteer mentors on our mentoring scheme for early career and apprentice journalists. This is a 12-month commitment, and the Trust offers advice and training to all the mentors who volunteer to work with us.

If you are interested in volunteering for as a mentor in our 2022 mentoring scheme, please fill in our new mentor questionnaire here. If you would like more information before applying, please fill out our contact form here.

Mentor on the sixth form and FE college mentoring scheme

We are looking for experienced journalists to work as volunteer mentors on our sixth form and FE college online mentoring scheme, which aims to give young people experience of the world of journalism. This is a shorter commitment, lasting 12 weeks, but it is a rewarding programme.

If you are interested, please fill in our new mentor questionnaire here. If you would like to find out more please fill out our contact form here. (If you are interested in both mentoring schemes, please let us know in the form – you only have to fill it out once.)

Assessing applications

We’re expecting more applications to our early career & apprentice mentoring programme this year than ever before.

If you would like to volunteer to help with the selection & matching process this year, please contact us using our contact form here.

Masterclasses

The Trust stages two masterclasses a month, where we cover the practical skills of journalism, like pitching, editing and to how to be a foreign correspondent, as well as one-to-one interviews with journalists like ITN’s Robert Moore.

If you would like to volunteer to speak at a masterclass for us, please fill out our contact form here.

Being a mentor

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Simon Vigar
Channel 5’s Simon Vigar, who has been a mentor five times, talks about why he volunteers for the Trust

John Schofield was ‘the kind of man who gives journalism a good name’

Robin Lustig, former BBC Presenter

John ‘was a brilliant journalist and a delightful man… He had the intelligence, integrity and courage to get to the top of his profession and it is a tragedy that such a brilliant career should come to such a shockingly premature end’

Richard Tait, former Editor-in-Chief, ITN

‘John’s gentle manners, ever-ready smile and openness were always a great boost to the spirit even on the most mundane of news days’

Zeinab Badawi, BBC Presenter

‘The John Schofield Trust…is an amazing organisation, and I think especially in these difficult, challenging times for the media industry, it’s really important to support young journalists’

Ben Brown, BBC Presenter

‘Every young journalist needs support. They need guidance. They need to fight. And that’s exactly what the Trust does’

Ronke Philipps, ITV News Correspondent

‘It’s really exciting to to witness first hand this next generation of journalists that will help shape the media landscape, hopefully make the industry better and build faith and trust in it’

Cordelia Lynch, Sky News Correspondent

‘Simply put – it enabled me to pursue my dream career, which without the support of my mentor and the John Schofield Trust, would not have been possible’

Mentee 2018

‘It is just a brilliant, practical and productive scheme – which in a cross generational way improves journalism for everyone’

Mentor 2018-19

‘Many thanks for having me at Mohamed’s talk … It was very helpful, well-structured and fitted a lot in to just under 60 mins. Really appreciate being able to join… it was fascinating to hear how Mohamed has done … foreign producing, especially when it comes to maintaining high standards, good communication and upholding strong ethics’

Laura Gaynor, Freelance producer

‘I’ve really enjoyed the whole mentoring experience! It’s been very useful to be able to hone my writing to a more concise and professional tone. I think the biggest take-away from this has been the confidence to share what I write’

E-mentee 2018-19

‘I want to be in a position where it’s not rare to have loads of different people from different backgrounds and not just racial backgrounds, but also class backgrounds and everything like that’

Ayshah Tull, former mentee and C4 News Reporter

But when I was out there actually looking for work, particularly in light of my disability, I couldn’t get started. It was the Trust that helped me get my foot in the door and help get me seen and recognised by the relevant people. To this day, when I mention my involvement with the scheme to people their eyes light up’

Max Preston, former mentee and Sky News producer

‘There is group think and I’ve succumbed to it plenty of times, despite the fact I went to a comp’

Lewis Goodall, former mentee and Policy Editor, BBC Newsnight

‘Being properly representative of modern Britain both on and off-air is essential to earning audience trust in our news output. Audiences need to hear and see themselves reflected back in the mirror we hold up to them’

Carla-Maria Lawson, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak

‘If I heard a Scottish voice on the news, especially if it wasn’t a particularly posh Scottish voice on the news, it gave me hope as a state educated Scot in Glasgow, that that’s something that I could do. There could be a future for me in that industry’

Peter Smith, former mentee and Scotland Correspondent, ITV News

‘It’s been reassuring to know that I could go into journalism with any degree and that having a passion for it is the main thing… It’s also been great to talk to someone from such a diverse background, it makes me realise that your differences are what makes you stand out and that can be an advantage in lots of situations’

E-mentee 2018-19

‘What the Trust does is it makes people feel that wherever you are and wherever you’re from that career in the media is well within your reach, and that you deserve it’

Minnie Stephenson, C4 News Reporter

‘As a mentor you offer listening, confidentiality, your interest and your thoughts. You’re not a friend or a teacher, simply someone who’s been in a similar place yourself and made it through’

Andrew Wilson, TV Correspondent