It turns traditional mentoring - which normally involves an older worker, I'm now in this category, graciously passing on their accumulated wisdom to young hopefuls - on its head. 

Big businesses have been using 'reverse mentoring' for many tasks, from helping older workers to master new IT to gently challenging outdated working practices and beliefs (yes, people can be perfectly productive while working from home). 

The BBC are 'reverse mentoring' from October in an effort to re-engage with the under 30's. 

'Reverse mentoring' is alive and well at Bolton FM, it has been for years. We may not be able to teach your granny how to bake a cake but we can teach her how to do radio, and if she brings in a cake that's lovely. 

Mentoring is part of our induction process, whether it's 'reverse mentoring' or not' new volunteers have a six week introduction to Bolton FM in the company of one of our experienced volunteers to learn what we do and how we do it. We try and tailor this the best we can and sometimes it puts together some strange and interesting partnerships. Mentoring at the station isn't always so structured but it is always
useful and valuable. 

We've shuffled Sunday's schedule in the run up to Christmas and it all begins this weekend, Sunday 1st October.  The Entertainment Fix with Vicky, Alex and Lucy moves to 2pm; The Sunday Playlist with Adam Fawcett follows from 4pm; The Spirit of Bolton moves to 5pm and then between 6pm and 7pm we're broadcasting a 13 week series called 'Local Music Live:
The Radio Show' championing new local music from around the UK.