It’s Challenge Poverty Week. Created by the Poverty Alliance in 2013, it’s about enabling organisations across Scotland to come together and call for a more equal Scotland, free from poverty.
Throughout the week, we are posting across our channels to raise awareness of specific issues highlighted by the Poverty Alliance, and the aligning work that MCR Pathways and our partner organisations are doing to support young people who experience poverty.
Today’s campaign theme is ‘Better Jobs, Pay, Hours, Conditions and Workers Voice’, which presents an excellent opportunity to shine a light on an issue which too often affects the young people that we support. Too many young people face significant disadvantages before they even begin their working lives. An unfair start shouldn’t determine someone’s entire trajectory, yet for many young people experiencing poverty, breaking free from that cycle can feel nearly impossible.
Opening Doors to Opportunity through Partnership
One of the most significant barriers facing young people in poverty is limited exposure to professional opportunities. Our programme is designed to address this directly. Through our incredible partner organisations, we provide access to universities, colleges, and thriving workplaces. This exposure is crucial because when young people can genuinely envision themselves in high-skilled careers, those paths become tangible rather than abstract.
From the Fire Service, to Police Scotland, to Glasgow Caledonian University and Glasgow Clyde College, our young people have the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities that help them identify career paths and capabilities they may not have previously recognised. By providing this direct experience, we can connect their considerable potential with the practical skills and vision needed to access real opportunities.
All of which helps to build confidence too. Moreover, participation in our award-winning group work and mentoring programme can help young people to further build further confidence and self-belief, as well as re-ignite a passion for learning and access support further to develop positive habits when it comes to preparing for exams, coursework. All of which will help in pursuing chosen paths that little bit easier.
The Young Person Voice Programme: Fostering Leadership and Empowerment
Securing meaningful employment requires more than qualifications alone. It demands confidence, leadership capabilities, and the ability to advocate for oneself. This is the foundation of our Young Person Voice Programme (YPVP), funded by the National Leadership Network (NLN).
The YPVP aims to improve the leadership skills of our young people and promote the importance of community projects. As well as this, young people who thrive on the YPVP programme are also offered the opportunity to join the MCR Pathways Youth National Advisory Board.
What makes the Young Person Voice Programme distinctive is the autonomy it provides to the young people participating. Young people have full authority to select and lead their own community volunteer projects. This approach cultivates ownership, deeper engagement, and alignment with their personal interests and values – all skills which will serve them well in the world of work.
Piloting the programme during the academic year 2024/25, participating young people designed a range of wonderfully creative projects. At Drumchapel High in Glasgow, young people organized a successful fundraising event for the SSPCA, while at Larkhall Academy, pupils volunteered with their local food bank and coordinated a food drive, and the ‘Graeme Garden Gems’ (as they dubbed themselves) at Graeme High showed remarkable dedication by maintaining and planting their school garden, even volunteering their personal time throughout the summer holidays.
Funding for the programme was granted by the NLN’s Steering Group, to a group of care experienced young people who contributed their advice and lived experience to decisions made by the NLN. Paige, of the National Leadership Network Steering Group, said: “Giving the green light for funding based on just a piece of paper and knowing it will change lives is such a powerful feeling. We need more of that if we’re going to tackle poverty. You don’t need to see it to know it’s there, just like I don’t see the young people behind an application, but I know the impact will be real. This funding has given them the chance to feel seen, to lead, to volunteer in their communities, and to dream bigger, even in tough times.”
Ash from the Steering Group said: “Poverty can’t be taken lightly. I am glad we have funded this work, especially if it can help in places that may need it. It is important.”
Over 80 young people took part in the Youth Voice Programme in its pilot year, and with plans to expand across more schools this year, we can’t wait to see what incredible initiatives our young people come up with.
We understand the depth of the challenges our young people face, the reality of poverty and limited access to opportunity. That’s why every initiative we undertake, from sowing the seeds of aspiration to community projects, is strategically focused on dismantling the barriers that lead to precarious employment and limited prospects.
MCR Pathways are co-sponsoring the Scotland Demands Better March, organised by the Poverty Alliance on the 25th of October in Edinburgh to help ensure young people’s voices are heard on this and many more matters.
To join us on the day, get in contact with our Policy team at policy@mcrpathways.org
