“I’m in no doubt that this is an incredibly effective approach to allowing people to optimise their life, to achieve their ambitions. Our staff will develop leadership skills which will put them in a great position for developing their own career as well.”
The University of Strathclyde Business School has made a landmark commitment to MCR Pathways and Glasgow’s care experienced young people. As announced in The Herald, they’ve set a target of 20% of Business School staff to become MCR volunteer mentors.
The pledge to MCR reflects the University’s DNA, to commit to its local community. By supporting Glasgow’s most disadvantaged young people, it’s an incredible opportunity for the school’s 200+ staff to practice the university’s socially progressive mantra.
The University’s volunteer mentors will make a transformational difference. The one-to-one relationship between mentor and young person, built over one hour meetings each week of school term, significantly enhances each young person’s self esteem and confidence. Helping them to realise their full potential through education, while sparking aspirations and future careers.
82% of MCR’s Young Glasgow Talent young people reach a positive post-school destination. Before MCR, just 48.8% of Glasgow’s care experienced young people were going on to college, university or employment.
The University also sees the partnership as a chance for the organisation and its staff to benefit:
It’s very much a two-way approach. It’s what we can do for society, but we’re also able to have an impactful staff development programme through this mentoring.
Research has shown that the best leaders are those leaders who can empathise with people. The best way that you can really learn to empathise with people is to work with others. Our staff will develop leadership skills which will put them in a great position for developing their own career as well,” Professor David Hillier, Dean of the University of Strathclyde Business School
Both MCR and the University of Strathclyde are totally dedicated to widening access. To ensuring the city’s most disadvantaged young people aspire for and achieve a university education.
Since becoming an MCR Pioneering Partner, the University has opened its doors to MCR young people at various stages of their secondary education. Offering summer schools, day visits, subject tasters and student tutoring support for young people directly. Strathclyde, along with Glasgow’s five other Higher Education institutions, annually deliver workshops on each University’s admission criteria and articulation routes for MCR’s mentors.
Small groups of young people have spent mornings and afternoons exploring the world of work with Strathclyde’s Talent Tasters. Which have sparked vital career aspirations. While the Strathclyde Summer Experience allows young people to explore the university and taste student life.
The University’s students also support MCR as part of the Management Development Programmes and for course work in the Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty.
“The 20% commitment from the Business School is precedent setting and even more so as they have committed to allow this number of staff to mentor as part of their working week. We are building a bank of evidence that every participant gets a huge amount back from the MCR mentoring experience. Mentors develop key listening, relationship building, communication and motivational skills.
The Business School is now helping us quantify and demonstrate to other organisations how much they will gain from increases in staff morale, productivity, wellbeing, management, leadership and personal development. This is why we are confident we will reach every disadvantaged young person in the city and beyond,”
Iain MacRitchie, MCR Pathways CEO and Founder
We’re thrilled with this commitment from one of the city’s biggest institutions. It will significantly increase the number of disadvantaged young people getting the quality and quantity of support they need and utterly deserve.
We have more young people signing up for Young Glasgow Talent’s help. They need mentors to make a huge difference to their confidence, educational outcomes and future life chances. Can you help them? Find out more about becoming a mentor.
Can your organisation help? To become involved in our Talent Taster programme, alongside our partners such as University of Strathclyde and The Herald Get Involved
We’re always looking for new mentors to reach all the new young people who are coming on board with the programme. Help us spread the word by letting your friends and family know how worthwhile mentoring can be!
