“Mentoring has given me a sense of purpose and perspective”
Mill Street Community Café in Guernsey is more than just a place to eat, it’s a vibrant hub of inclusion and community. Creating a welcoming space that brings people together over good food and conversation. It offers free meals to those in financial hardship and provides inclusive employment opportunities for individuals with special needs, helping them build confidence and community.
Lloyds Bank Foundation in the Channel Islands has supported the charity for a number of years, but more recently, Ross MacGillivray, a Relationship Manager on the island, has been mentoring the team to help strengthen their operations and strategic direction.
Ross’s involvement has brought structure, insight, and renewed energy to the organisation. Weekly Friday morning meetings have become the cornerstone for reflection and forward planning.
While working with the café, he has already made a real impact. He has facilitated a potential partnership to share kitchen space, organised and led a “Time to Make a Difference” where the café was re-decorated and refreshed with a team of bank colleagues, supported grant applications and conducted a financial review that identified areas for cost savings.
The impact
Ross’s greatest contribution has been helping the team regain momentum in areas that had previously stalled. By offering an external, objective perspective, Ross enabled the café to reassess challenges and make clearer, more confident decisions. His role has been a blend of catalyst and advisor, nudging progress while encouraging thoughtful reflection.
Ross says: “Being part of the café has been a genuinely enriching experience. I often take my kids there as it’s a warm, welcoming place that reminds me how small gestures, like a smile or hello, can make a big difference.
It’s also made me more grateful and aware of the challenges others face. I’m proud to have played a small part in supporting the café and hope my contribution leaves a lasting impact”.
Encouraging others to get involved
Mentoring, Ross says, doesn’t require a huge time commitment, but can have a real impact.
“Many charity founders have the passion, but need support with the day-to-day running of their organisations. That’s where mentors can step in”.
His message to others is simple: “You’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Mentoring has given me a sense of purpose and perspective. Even the smallest contribution can be incredibly rewarding.”
