LINKnet Mentoring Ltd.

16/10/2026

He came to Edinburgh to study. He stayed, found community, and discovered a new path into the charity sector. 📝❤️

Adrian came to Edinburgh from Hong Kong to study Sociology at the University of Edinburgh. He enjoyed the city so much that he stayed on to complete an MSc in International Relations, graduating in 2025.

While studying for his Masters, Adrian came across LINKnet through Volunteer Scotland and decided to get involved.

During his nine months volunteering with LINKnet, Adrian played an important role in developing our Befriender programme. He brought information together into a central system, contacted volunteers and service users, helped match befrienders and befriendees, and supported the team in making sure everyone understood LINKnet's safeguarding policies.

"I had a lot to learn at first and I wasn’t used to phoning people I didn’t know. Gaining the confidence to do this was a really strong skill for me to develop."

Through volunteering, Adrian developed valuable administrative and communication skills while meeting people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures.

Nine months later, his experience with LINKnet helped him apply for and secure a paid role elsewhere. 🎉

Reflecting on his time with us, Adrian said:

"LINKnet was a really good place to get started in the charity sector. I developed admin skills but also learned how to deal with different people."

We’re incredibly proud of Adrian and grateful for everything he contributed to the LINKnet community. ❤

Read Adrian’s full story on our website. https://www.linknetmentoring.com/officevolunteering

📩 Interested in office volunteering? Email [email protected] or call 0131 261 4463 to find out more.

15/10/2026

We are looking for a Project Officer for a new program to address transportation barriers for BME families. Please apply on our website! ✨💼

14/10/2026

What can happen over a coffee? A new friendship, more confidence, and a whole new perspective. ☕✨

When Lisa moved from Nigeria to Edinburgh in 2022 to study for her MBA at Edinburgh Napier University, she was also finding her feet in a new country and community.

A Project Manager by profession, Lisa discovered LINKnet while looking for volunteering opportunities and joined us as a Project Development Assistant. She immediately connected with our mission:

“LINKnet supports all immigrants, not just asylum seekers and refugees but also people like me coming out of education who also want to contribute and be part of the UK community and I thought immediately, that’s the place for me!”

Over the past six months, Lisa has used her project management skills to support the administration and database for our Befriender Programme. But she has also become a befriender herself.

Lisa was initially nervous about meeting her befriendee, a student from Japan. She worried they might not have anything in common and remembers feeling unsure about what to say when they first met at a coffee shop. But once they started talking, those worries disappeared.

“It’s amazing to see bits of yourself in people from other cultures.”

Through the programme, Lisa has seen how much can come from a regular conversation and a willingness to learn from someone different from you. She also believes befriending benefits both people involved, helping New Scots build confidence, knowledge and connections while giving befrienders opportunities to develop skills in coaching, mentoring, communication and active listening.

Having experienced moving to Edinburgh herself, Lisa also wishes she had known about a programme like this when she first arrived:

“I was a very long way from home and on my own. It would have been great to have known that there was help out there and someone to point me in the right direction.”

Today, Lisa gets to help provide that support to someone else. She encourages anyone considering becoming a befriender to give it a try:

“People are often surprised to find what they discover about themselves and to find out that we are all so similar despite different backgrounds and cultures.”

✨ Read Lisa’s full story on our website.

Interested in becoming a LINKnet Befriender?

📩 Email [email protected] or call 0131 261 4463 to find out more.

08/10/2026

What happens when two people from different backgrounds come together with a shared goal of learning from each other? 🌍

For nearly seven months, Carla and Dahab have been meeting through LINKnet’s Befriender Programme, building a supportive partnership that has benefited them both.

Dahab moved to Edinburgh from Sudan with a BSc in Economics. One of his goals is to improve his English so that he can eventually attend college in Scotland.

Carla, originally from the Washington DC area, has a background in languages and recently completed an MSc in Translation and Interpreting. She joined LINKnet because she wanted to use her language skills to support people in her community.

For Dahab, the meetings are helping him improve his language skills, confidence and sense of belonging:

“It is making me happier and more confident and it is helping me settle into Edinburgh.”

And Carla has gained from the experience too:

“Befriending has helped me improve my skills and knowledge as well as expand my professional and personal circle. It doesn’t just benefit the befriendee, it can benefit you too!”

Their story is a wonderful example of what befriending can offer!

Read Carla and Dahab’s full story on our website. https://lnkd.in/eRDrmNWx

Interested in the Befriending Programme?

📩 Email [email protected] or call 0131 261 4463 to find out more.

08/10/2026

She came to LINKnet looking for direction. She left with a new career. 💼

Meet JJ, one of our volunteer success stories. After volunteering with us for a few months, she has now started a new role as an Employability Caseworker for a local charity, in exactly the area she wanted to work in. 🎉

JJ joined LINKnet looking to rebuild her confidence and gain experience that would help her work out what she wanted to do next. During her time in our office, she supported the team in a variety of ways, from speaking with clients and developing project systems in Excel to using her creativity to contribute to office décor and website designs.

Most importantly, JJ says her experience with LINKnet helped her recognise her skills and gave her the confidence to use them.

"I feel like I have a voice and that I can make a difference."

We’re so proud of JJ and delighted to see where her LINKnet journey has taken her!

Read JJ’s full story on our website!

📩 Interested in office volunteering? Email [email protected] or call 0131 261 4463.

04/10/2026

What a lovely evening at LINKnet! ♥️

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Open Day on Friday. It was wonderful to see both new and familiar faces and finally show off our newly renovated space with you all! ✨🏠

We’re so excited for all the new memories to come in our new space!

30/09/2026

🚨BIG NEWS!🚨

LINKnet Mentoring has been nominated for the 2026 Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Community Choice Award, and we need YOUR help! 🏆

This award is decided by public vote, so this is where you can help us!

🗳 Please vote for LINKnet Mentoring using the link below.

Voting closes Thursday, 22 October at 23:59

⭐️ Anyone can vote so please share this post and the voting link!

Every vote means so much to us. Thank you for supporting LINKnet and the communities we work with!

The Community Choice Award is decided by the public, not the judging panel. Choose from the thirty finalists at the Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Awards 2026 and cast your vote.

30/09/2026

We are thrilled to announce that LINKnet Mentoring is a finalist in the 2026 Scottish Ethnic Minority Talent Awards for Education & Employability! 🏆⭐️

Nominations were scored by an independent judging panel against the published criteria for the category. We are so glad to showcase the work of our office, volunteers, and community members.

A huge thank you to Dr. Divya Jenson for working on our application, and to DataKirk for facilitating this event. We are looking forward to the award gala night on October 29th!

Find more information about gala tickets and the organization at https://luma.com/20fgixmh.

25/09/2026

All the essentials for a great Arthur's seat walk with LINKnet! ⛰ 🌈

Want to join us next time? Check our Facebook, Instagram and website for updates on our future events!

02/09/2026

Hello everyone!

We would love to invite you to join the LINKnet group for a nice walking trip to Arthur’s Seat!

Date: 17th of September

Meet time: 2:45 PM (We will leave at 3:00 PM sharp)

Meeting place: LINKnet office (31 Guthrie Street, Edinburgh)

🌿 What to expect:
Enjoy the fresh autumn weather and beautiful views of Edinburgh.

Relax, hang out, and chat together in a lovely outdoor spot!

Bring your family and friends—everyone is welcome!

Please check the attached flyer for more details.

If you'd like to join us, please let us know by the 11th of September!

See you there!

— LINKnet Team