To help set you off on the right footing and make clear the difference between mentoring and professional advice – please take a moment to read the following.

Making your role as a GET INFORMED mentor clear

• DO make it clear at the start of mentoring and throughout where appropriate that you are unable to advise on specific investments and you can only provide general information.
• DO make it clear that your mentee’s specific circumstances have not been taken into account when you provide information. If they want more specific advice tailored to their circumstances, suggest that they contact an investment advisor.
• DO NOT offer professional advice or offer to carry out regulated activities such as providing investment advice or making financial promotions. Big Society Capital is not responsible for any advice you choose to give.
• DO NOT recommend one investment over another. Should specific investments be raised by your mentee, you should not indicate whether you believe that one investment is better or more appropriate than another.
• DO NOT give any judgment on investments.
• DO NOT agree to attend meetings about investments on behalf of your mentee or to represent the views or interests of your mentee.

On other parties

• YOU MAY provide contact details for particular intermediaries or investment advisers if your mentee requests these details.
• DO NOT help with aspects of your mentee’s investment transaction/negotiation with other parties.
• YOU MAY, on an ad-hoc basis and when requested, provide introductions where the purpose of the meeting is to provide information about the social investment market, but DO NOT do more than introduce your mentee to a third party. An introduction should not go beyond helping the two parties meet.
• DO NOT hold yourself out as offering an introductory service between your mentee and potential investors.

GET INFORMED mentoring is a free service

• DO NOT charge a fee or take any other kind of payment.