Become A Mentor
The only requirement to be a mentor is simply a desire to help.
Mentors spend an hour each week listening to and encouraging a young person in their school. The relationship that develops is what makes the difference. Can you help a young person to build their confidence and discover their potential?
What Is A Mentor?
All young people are talented. However, many face challenges in their lives that make it harder for them to succeed. A mentor is someone who takes time to listen to and encourage their young person to persist and achieve.
In short, our volunteer mentors help young people to realise their full potential.
Mentors and young people are carefully matched based on their likes, personality and life-experiences. Everyone is different, so we look for mentors from all walks of life. When one person mentors, two lives are changed.
How Does it Work?
The MCR team and your school’s Pathways Coordinator are here to help support your relationship every step of the way. We provide ongoing training and resources to help you encourage your young person to be their best.
To sign, up we ask that you watch a short video and tell us a bit about yourself in preparation for your one-to-one.
After this you’ll take part in a one-to-one conversation. This helps us make an inspired match between our mentors and young people!
Next, there’s a Training Session where you’ll learn mentoring tips and essential information.
To make the best match, we take the information from the one-to-one and find the young person you can help most with your unique life experiences.
Mentors meet their mentee in-person for just one hour a week, where you can decide together how best to use the time!
Why Mentoring Matters
External research shows that MCR mentoring transforms outcomes for care-experienced young people and others who have experienced disadvantage. Mentored young people have significantly higher staying on rates, attainment and rates of progression to positive destinations (college, university and employment) compared to non-mentored care-experienced young people.
ScotCen found that 81.6% of mentored care-experienced pupils left school for college, university or a job, compared with 59.8% of those young people not being mentored.
Mentoring is creating a wave of positive change, impacting our schools, community and country.
"When I first met my mentor I was excited as my Coordinator promised me it was someone specially picked for me. It was great to meet her for the first time as she was so down to earth and nice. We did a tour of the school. I am really grateful as she has helped me to be open-minded and boosted my confidence. I didn't realise I needed a mentor until I got one."
Young Person
St Machar Academy
Aberdeen
My mentor is funny and just all round amazing because he can make the worst times I am having to tiny tiny minor things. He tries to make me smile and laugh. He gives good advice and helps me through a lot of things. It's really easy to talk to him as we have a really good connection as we have a lot in common such as politics etc.
Young Person
St Margaret Mary's Secondary
Glasgow
"My mentor was always there for me. I went through a really bad time and didn't always show up but she just kept turning up and when I would come back she was always waiting.
Young Person
Auchenharvie Academy
North Ayrshire
A mentor gives you someone to speak to. It’s someone outwith school who you can get to know.
Young Person
Inverurie Academy
Aberdeenshire
My mentor Tim, he helps me stay focussed and he always listens to me. He made me see the good things in life. But every mentor and every young person in this programme is different, we are individuals.
Young Person
Lochend Community High School
Glasgow
My mentor is adventurous, and easy going. She understands me and is hilarious. I can trust my mentor and talk to her about things that I don't talk to other people about. My mentor has brought me out of my shell and makes me feel important.
Young Person
Knightswood Academy
Glasgow
Helpful Guides
Your Mentor Journey Explained
Everything you need to know about your mentoring journey.
Other Ways To Help
Donate
Would you like to help bring mentoring and support to more young people through a financial donation? We’ve partnered with InvestMyCommunity to facilitate donations. We are very grateful for your support.
Become A Partner
Our committed partners help us deliver our programme and reach more young people. Our partners include organisations of all sizes, from local businesses to national corporations to Local Authorities.
Volunteer
There are many ways to get involved at MCR Pathways. We are delighted to have volunteers supporting almost every department in our team. Contact us if you’d like to get involved!
MCR Pathways
Mitchell Library,
Berkeley Street
Glasgow,
UK
G3 7DN
MCR Pathways is a SCIO regulated by OSCR,
Scottish Charity number SC045816