Mentoring for tomorrow: the power of volunteering to shape the future

This International Mentoring Day, and as we look ahead to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026, mentoring stands out as a force for positive change — bridging gaps, empowering people, and shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Mentoring is not just about individual development.  It’s about creating opportunities, fostering inclusion, shaping a more resilient future and building trust – principles that strongly align with the values of the RTPI. 

Mentoring: relationships that create lasting impact

Mentoring plays a vital role in building a stronger profession, opening doors and building confidence, which is currently essential for a profession with a skills shortage.  As a mentor it is not about having all the answers, but more about listening, asking thoughtful questions and sharing experiences – including challenges as well as successes.  Through trust and support within a safe space, mentoring helps to navigate career transitions, develop skills and explore new opportunities.

The value for mentors is the experience often brings renewed motivation, enhanced leadership and communication skills along with value opportunities for reflection.

As an addition to helping individuals, the RTPI scheme aims to create a ripple effect whereby those initially supported grow and are then more likely to go on and support others in turn. 

Mentoring for every career stage

The RTPI career mentoring scheme supports members at every stage of their careers.  As primarily an online mentoring scheme, it is open to members worldwide and any member class.  Mentor-mentee matches are made based on individual needs and experience ensuring meaningful and productive partnerships.

Since the programme’s launch in April 2025, we are delighted to celebrate its strong and growing impact.  The platform now hosts 215 mentor profiles and 164 mentee profiles, resulting in 143 successful mentoring matches (with mentors supporting up to three mentees each).  It is particularly encouraging to see a balanced level of participation from both local authorities and consultancy practices, reflecting the programme’s broad reach across the profession.

“Mentoring is so worthwhile for both mentors and mentees, and the RTPI platform makes this easy to deliver. I found real value early in my career from understanding different perspectives and gaining confidence in my abilities. Now I try to pass this on to others — supported by the RTPI framework — while continuing to learn from mentees and their new ideas. An all-round valuable initiative from the RTPI.”

William Sparling is an RTPI mentor and an Advisor for the Oxford Growth Commission at Oxford City Council.  He also volunteers as a Planning Aid England volunteer, sits on the PAE Steering group, the Volunteer Advisory Group and is secretary for the South East region.

Ready to get involved?

Whether you are looking to grow your own career, support others, or give back to the planning profession, mentoring offers a powerful way to make a difference. 

The online platform provides a range of guidance and resources to support all those involved, including videos, goal setting tools and flexible personal profiles.  Mentors and mentees are supported to set clear expectations, helping to ensure a positive and rewarding experience for everyone involved.