FOR HOSTS
Who can be a host?
PressPad’s host-mentorship scheme could not exist without the generosity and brilliance of our host community.
Any media professional with a spareroom and a clear DBS can become a host-mentor.
So if you’re willing to make a direct impact in the fight against the lack of diversity in the media, find out more below or join the movement now.
What it means to be a host
- A spare room for a few weeks can make the difference between being able to accept, refuse or even apply for a work placement away from home.
- Our interns are not expecting the Ritz – even if you feel your spare room isn’t up to much (or doubles up as a home office), it could be the key to unlocking a life-changing career opportunity.
- Guidance on linen, locks on bathrooms, WiFi codes or interns dietary requirements – 24/7 support from the PressPad team covers all bases.
- Advice to share over a cuppa in the kitchen, suggesting CV edits for their next application or being that trusted person to speak confidentially with when things go wrong.
- Our mentoring guides and training ensure both host and intern get what they need during the stay
- Reverse mentoring is all the rage now, never let someone tell you an old dog can’t learn new tricks…ahem…We’re thinking of you, TikTok!
- Upskill outside of work by developing coaching and leadership skills through your mentorship relationship
- Do you know someone who could help your intern make the next step in their career? Share the love and your contacts book
- Believe in a little thing called karma? We do. In any industry you never know who might be offering you your next job or project…in five years time it could be someone you hosted through PressPad!
Safeguarding
We take safeguarding very seriously, and invite you to read about how the scheme works in detail, from our checks and free DBS down to what insurance we use.
Training and resources provided
You won’t be alone if you join us as a host, we provide 24/7 support and we’ll help you if you have any questions. We also provide you with the tools to make all stays a success and improve your mentoring abilities.
What previous hosts have to say
Don’t just take our word for it, read what previous hosts have to say about their experience.
Lasting change
It may not seem like much, but your help could change the life of a young person and give you a front row seat in the process of diversifying the media.
Selected FAQs
It depends if you have made weekends available on your PressPad calendar. If yes, then you will be expected to host your intern during the weekend.
We strongly encourage hosts to consider letting interns stay over the weekend. Some interns come from quite a long way, the prohibitive cost of a train ticket may be too much for them.
Of course! We understand that many people work from home (at least part of the week).
Many interns are expected to only stay with our hosts for two weeks. It means that as long as you would be willing to move your home office to another room in your home for the duration of your stay, you would be VERY welcome to apply to become a PressPad host-mentor.
Whilst mentoring is a big part of the PressPad experience, as long as you are available for at least part of the intern’s stay and you are happy and comfortable with them staying whilst you are not there, then this should not be a problem. Please advise your intern in advance of their stay should you think this will happen.
Any more questions? Check out our FAQs.
Quick ways to help
- Register as a volunteer (new volunteering scheme coming soon!)
- Donate to The PressPad Charitable Foundation, which has launched a Community Fund to support young people with host-mentorship who don’t have a media sponsor – Donate here
- Sponsor an intern – get that feel-good feeling and do a tonne of good even if you can’t host by sponsoring an intern and receive updates on their progress through the industry – Learn more about the scheme here
Get creative and champion us in whatever way works for you
Give us a shout out on social media. Wwrite for us. Mention us to your boss or HR department. Organise a fundraising event.
We can all do something – and at PressPad we’ll never say no to help, however small, after all – that’s exactly what our scheme is about.
What should we tackle next?
Tell us what blind spots we’re not addressing (yet)! Be it retention of journalists from minority backgrounds, workplace bullying, mental health support resources, or sharing the solutions, as well as the issues, you’ve found!
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