An award winning mentoring programme, MCR Pathways, is being launched in seven schools in the Highlands – Inverness High, Wick High, Inverness Royal, Lochaber High, Dingwall Academy, Alness Academy and Invergordon Academy.
MCR’s programme supports young people who are care-experienced, or have experienced disadvantage, by matching them with a volunteer mentor for weekly meetings.
MCR Pathways was established in 2007 and currently supports over 3,000 young Scots each week. Research has shown that MCR mentoring makes a statistically significant impact on young people’s rates of staying-on for 5th and 6th year, attainment and progression to positive destinations.
Right now, MCR Pathways is looking for the first 150 volunteer mentors in the Highlands. Anyone with one hour per week to spare can become a mentor and help improve the life chances of a young person.
Graeme McEwan, CEO of MCR Pathways, said: “Our life-changing mentoring programme is currently supporting 3,000 young Scots each week and we are absolutely delighted to be bringing it to seven schools in the Highlands. Mentoring will make a huge difference to so many young people – we have seen how transformational that 1:1 relationship can be. The most recent data showed that 81% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 56% and we would love to work towards making that same impact in Highland.
“Anyone can be a mentor and our volunteers come from all walks of life; they just need an hour a week and the desire to make a difference. We’d also love to hear from local employers and community groups to get involved. Mentors and their employers gain massively from the experience for relatively little time commitment.”
If you’re in the Highlands and wish to #BeTheBridge between a young person’s talent and possibilities in life, sign up to become a mentor today!
