Mentoring
Our CSA mentoring programme offers support to start up or existing CSA farms across the UK
We offer various types of mentoring which support new and existing CSAs to thrive.
Mentoring Day Session (8 hours):
Our standard mentoring which is open to applications year-round (funding allowing) and gives you eight hours of your mentors time which could be a visit, online or phone calls or both. (Please note if the mentor travels to you their travel time will be included in these eight hours).
Our mentors will mainly be from existing successful CSAs and we prioritise mentors from our member CSAs. Most often you would visit your mentor’s farm, but they can also visit you or you can do some or all of the work in online sessions depending on needs and subject matter. We will try to match you up with the most suitable mentor based on location and type of CSA.
Mentoring costs a subsidised fee of £30 for CSA Network UK members and £60 for non-members (the actual cost is around £360 so this is a great offer!) and we cover the cost of the mentor’s time and all travel expenses. You will get a day’s time with an experienced mentor matched to your needs.
Please apply by filling in the form below and we will be in touch to discuss your application. Once we have clarified that you are suitable for mentoring through a phone or online discussion you will be asked to pay the mentoring fee and we will then contract your mentor.
Incubator mentoring:
From time to time we are able to offer a longer-term mentoring programme for start-up CSAs. These opportunities are advertised on our website and though our mailing list so sign up here to hear about them.
Visioning Session:
Do you have a great idea for a CSA but are unsure how to get there? Do you need a long-term plan? Are you feeling a bit stuck? Do you need to pull your team together behind a vision? Do you know you want to produce great food and feed your community but unsure how? Then our visioning session might be for you. The visioning session is run by an experienced facilitator with experience of supporting new and establishing CSAs and last around 2-3 hours with some preparation beforehand which will involve your team. These visioning sessions are very useful for new CSAs with multiple stakeholders who want to make sure they start out in the right direction or for established CSAs looking at a change of direction. They are designed bespoke for your needs, for instance looking at new roles. Depending on location they may take place online or on zoom. Visioning sessions also cost a subsidised fee of £30 for CSA Network UK members and £60 for non-members. If you are interested in the visioning session, please fill in the form below and we will be in touch. Once we have clarified that you are suitable through a phone or online discussion you will be asked to pay the fee and we will then arrange the session facilitator.
Please note that to be eligible for our mentoring or visioning you need to be operating as a CSA or planning to operate as a CSA in a way which accords with our charter.