People of Colour Mentorship Programme
Over a six-month period in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 a Peer Mentorship Programme was developed and delivered with consultation with the People of Colour Working Group, to support colleagues from historically under resourced communities to achieve their professional development aspirations.
A bespoke framework was designed for Solace to match the needs of our staff team, and both mentors and mentees received training before embarking on the program.
The preparatory training covered mentoring best practice, programme expectations, navigating challenges and a range of tips and tools.
See below for testimonials and feedback from participants.
Future Leaders Programme
Our People of Colour Inclusion Network has led the development of this initiative to support the advancement of future leaders with the organisation.
The Future Leaders Programme is designed to prepare aspiring leaders and strengthen their resilience through a mixture of:
- Solution-sharing sessions
- Group reflection
- Conversation
- Practical exercises
The initiative is intended primarily for people from the global majorities to work towards achieving greater parity. Participants are invited to reflect on their career progression so far and understand the new challenges they may face as they achieve management positions within the organisation.
Microaggressions training
Courageous Conversations is our bespoke internal microagressions training that was co-created in collaboration with our staff team and has been running since 2023.
The training gives colleagues the tools to when gently challenging microagressions that occur when interacting with partners, external organisations and influential stakeholders.
Inclusion Networks
Our Inclusion Networks, one of our EDI initiatives, provide staff with opportunities for support, networking, socialising and learning.
Therapeutic support services
The emotional health and wellbeing of all our staff is a priority for Solace and we have developed a comprehensive and accessible package of support within the organisation.
Debriefs on demand
We offer a daily debrief session for all staff that gives access to a meeting with a BACP-trained clinical practitioner. These one-to-one sessions are available Monday to Friday and are particularly useful for frontline staff working with trauma. An additional session specifically for people of colour is available on demand.
Debriefs provide an opportunity to explore any difficulties encountered at work. They can be used to process disclosures and access support from a trained professional, and help to relieve the emotional pressures of frontline work.
Clinical supervision
Team clinical supervision
This provides an opportunity for teams to access expert support to discuss any challenges or concerns arising from work that might have impacts professionally and personally.
The clinical supervisor is there to help develop strategies and solutions in response to any incidents that might occur.
Individual clinical supervision
Designed to give staff a chance to discuss work-related concerns, individual clinical supervision provides strategies to address specific challenges, which could include race-related workplace issues. Staff can access up to three sessions.
Employee Assistance Programme
This service provided by Health Assured offers further support, including a 24-hour helpline, online portal and a wellbeing app.
Confidential reporting
Solace is committed to building a workplace culture that is free from bullying and discrimination. Our confidential reporting option means that our staff have a means to flag anything of concern anonymously.
Tell Jane
Solace’s externally managed and anonymous reporting mechanism, Tell Jane, is a freephone hotline that provides a safe way to confidentially raise concerns. It can be used to report incidences of bullying, harassment or discrimination.
This system exists in addition to our established formal and informal reporting channels.