Dear Mentors,
Welcome to the Mentor Mess – the page where you will find all of the important information about your upcoming mentoring experience. We’ve tried our best to make everything clear, but if you’re still missing any information, then let us know!
A handful of general information
Preparation meeting
A couple of weeks before the journey we will hold an online meeting for the mentors. It will be on a weekday around 19:00 Amsterdam time (CEST). We hope that you can make it, especially if you’re a first-time mentor!
Whatsapp groups
We will organise a Whatsapp group for all mentors, as well as some smaller ones (e.g. per leg of The Tall Ships Races). We will invite you as soon as the groups are ready. If you change your number, use a different number for Whatsapp than the one you gave during registration, etc. – please let us know!
You can always text us at +31 6 8279 0115.
When the journey starts, we ask that you also make one group for all of your trainees.
Trainee details
We will share trainee details with the mentors of each journey. If there are more mentors on board at the same time, only one of them will receive the list.
This list will be shared via email in an encrypted file. You will receive a password in a separate message – please write it down because the password page will self-destruct, Mission Impossible style, after you’ve opened it.
The list will include trainee contact details, as well as the information for the next of kin (emergency contact, NOK). Use this information to contact trainees who are running late, and set up the Whatsapp groups. FYI, one of the crew members will have a complete list, including medical information, dietary restrictions, etc.
Important documents
Mentor Guide
This file contains everything you need to know about being a mentor. It is divided into two main sections:
What it means to be a mentor
A list of activities to do on board (and on land!)
We recommend that you download the file on your phone and use it whenever you need!
Youth Safeguarding Policy
This supplemental document explains in detail about what to do when you're facing a difficult situation regarding a trainee. We've included all situations that we could think of, and we hope that it will be a useful manual for you if there are any troubles.
Download the WSF Youth Safeguarding PolicyMEntoring agreement
Before the journey, we will ask you to sign the Mentoring Agreement. It's a type of a contract which outlines your responsibilities, as well as ours. Please read it carefully and send it back to us once it's been signed.
Download the Mentoring Agreement
Upload your Mentoring Agreement here
Criminal record certificate / VOG
In order to be able to work with young people, you need to have a certificate from the police, ministry of internal affairs, or equivalent institution in your country. This document certifies that you don’t have a criminal record.
For Dutch mentors: Windseeker is able to obtain those certificates in your name. Once we fill out the forms, you will receive emails from the VOG – keep your eye out for those, and follow the instructions!
For non-Dutch mentors: you will need to obtain this document by yourself. Depending on your country, it can usually be done online, and often for free. Let us know if you need to pay a fee. Please remember that you need a certificate from your own country, not from the Netherlands! Upload your certificate below as soon as you receive it.
Do you already have a certificate from previous projects? Upload it below and we’ll check if it’s still valid!