Finding Common Ground: Mentoring for a Connected Commonwealth
- Sarah McQuade
- Oct 13
- 2 min read
Over the past year, e.t.c coaching consultants have been working closely with Commonwealth Sport to create a consistent and connected approach to developing the people who make Commonwealth Sport what it is — the mentors, supervisors, and leaders who shape learning, growth, and leadership across programmes such as eqUIP, GAPS, and the Commonwealth Women’s Leadership Programme (CWLP).
At the heart of this initiative sits 'Common Ground' — a new mentor development programme designed to build capability, confidence, and community among those guiding others within the Commonwealth Sport ecosystem.
A Blended Approach to Learning
Common Ground adopts a blended learning model, created in partnership with our digital collaborators at MiMentor and hosted on the CGF Learning Platform.
Each participating programme will access:
Online learning modules introducing the principles and practices of effective mentoring.
Webinars that bring those concepts to life in the real-world contexts in which mentors operate.
Group mentoring experiences that support the practical application of learning in the field.
Together, these learning experiences are designed to help mentors reflect, connect, and grow — ensuring mentoring across the Commonwealth is grounded in shared values and consistent quality.
Successful applicants will also have the opportunity to achieve the ASQ Certificate in Mentoring, by evidencing their learning and demonstrating how they have applied it in practice.
Exploring Connection in Zambia
Hosted by the Zambian Olympic Committee at the stunning Legacy Resort in Lusaka, the soft launch of Common Ground took place at the eqUIP Orientation for Africa and Europe.
Sixteen supervisors from Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs) — all occupying diverse leadership roles across their national programmes — came together for a workshop designed to help them think differently about how they support and guide their mentees.
The key learning centred on one simple truth: human connection is key. It's not necessarily what we see, hear, or do that helps us learn — but how an experience moves us.
The most powerful question of the day was:
How do you want your mentees to feel throughout their internship?
From there, we explored the tools, concepts, processes, and behaviours supervisors can lean on to make those feelings a lived reality — creating an environment where learning is both supported and inspired.
Looking Ahead
We are now eagerly preparing to launch the Common Ground Mentor Development Programme in early November with eqUIP Supervisors.
This year-long learning journey will run in parallel with the eqUIP internships and continue through to — and beyond — the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Common Ground represents a shared commitment to the growth of people and the power of mentoring as a vehicle for change. It’s about creating space for reflection, fostering genuine connection, and strengthening the human thread that unites the Commonwealth sport family. Busy
As always, we remain grounded in what matters most: helping people learn, grow, and thrive — together.
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