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South Yorkshire Charity Mentors (SYCM) offers the leaders of the region’s charities and community groups the opportunity to secure free, mentoring and peer support from one of our experienced mentors. SYCM was established in 2021 with the aim of giving senior voluntary sector leaders access to free support to grow their skills and strengthen their organisations.  SYCM works to make a positive contribution to improved voluntary sector sustainability and our post pandemic recovery. Our registered Charity number is 1205927.

Who We Are

South Yorkshire Charity Mentors is a proactive programme. We identify the mentor from our mentor bank who has the background, experience and skills to match the needs of the charity leader. Our mentoring programme is confidential and the work between mentor and mentee is completed privately.
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Find a Mentor

Are you a senior leader in a South Yorkshire based charity? Are you looking to develop yourself in your role? Is there a strategic challenge that an experienced mentor could help you to solve? Contact us to find out more.
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Become a Mentor

Are you an experienced leader with the skills to support a senior colleague from one of South Yorkshire's charities? Are you looking for a way to support your community and to make a significant difference to others? Contact us to find out more.
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Meet Our Team

Nancy Fielder - Trustee

Nancy is Editor-In-Chief at Nationalworld.com, having previously been editor at The Sheffield Star and The Sheffield Telegraph

Chris Hallam - Trustee

Chris is a highly experienced executive mentor and a successful transformational change and behaviour coach. Chris is also a voluntary sector CEO and Trustee. Chris is part of our team of mentors and you can learn more about Chris's background and expertise on his mentor profile.

Tony Pedder OBE DL - Chair

Tony’s executive career was with British Steel where he undertook various executive roles, culminating in becoming Group Chief Executive of British Steel’s successor company, Corus plc., in 2001. Since leaving Corus in 2003, he has undertaken a number of non-executive roles, including as Chair of Sheffield Forgemasters Ltd, Chair of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and Chair of the Council of Sheffield University. Other NED roles have included local regeneration/job creation and the voluntary sector. Tony was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for South Yorkshire in 2007 and awarded an OBE in 2013 for services to business, health and the voluntary sector in Sheffield.  He was Master Cutler in 2013/14.

Martin Singer - CEO

Martin has lived in the South Yorkshire for over twenty years. He previously led the development of SYCM through it's pilot period and had a twenty-five-year career holding Head Office, regional and local leadership roles for several leading retailers including John Lewis, Waitrose and Debenhams. He has also worked as a Commercial Director in the charity sector. Martin volunteers as a Trustee with Sheffield Museums, Age UK Rotherham and Sheffield Cathedral Enterprises. Martin was a founding member and co-Chair of Sheffield Business Together, an organisation that encourages collaborative and strategic CSR activity across the city.

Ruth Willis

Ruth Willis - Trustee

Ruth Willis is currently the Chief Executive of South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation (SYCF). Ruth is an experienced senior leader and manager in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector and in local government.  She studied at Manchester and Middlesex Polytechnics and Lancaster University.  Throughout her career as a consultant, employee and interim manager she has worked across the country in a variety of roles.  Ruth has also coached and mentored a number of people across the private and public sectors.  Ruth is a member of the Institute of Housing and a Fellow of the RSA.

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South Yorkshire Charity Mentors Logo
Our mentoring programme connects the senior leaders of South Yorkshire’s charities and community groups with experienced leaders from other sectors, giving them the opportunity to secure strategic level mentoring and support. Our proactive programme is based on short term mentoring relationships which mainly focus on strategic issues. The programme is free of charge.