“I sit on Glasgow’s Children Panel and yesterday we were able to take a young man off Compulsory Supervision measures. He had truanted for the last 4 years, but has now re-engaged with life solely because of the MCR programme. He is more positive, gets up in the morning and knows what job ultimately he would like to do. It was lovely to hear how this young man’s views on life and education had completely changed since his involvement in the programme.”
As well as supporting our young people with an incredible MCR Pathways recruits volunteer mentors. Glaswegians from all walks of life have pledged their support. As many are under 35 as over 65. Two-thirds fit in mentoring alongside busy work and home lives. Providing a listening, encouraging ear for one hour a week.” who will encourage and guide that young person through secondary, we support the city’s most vulnerable. Those who are at risk from disengaging with education completely.
At the beginning of the year MCR Pathways is a Scottish charity. Currently in 15 Glasgow schools we have a city-wide expansion plan & national ambition to ensure every care-experienced young person is supported through their education.” piloted a programme to re-engage those young people who face incredibly challenging issues and barriers.
This programme introduces them to an informal educational environment where MCR and our partners, including Young Firefighters and Young Movers, build confidence, self esteem and social skills. Our young people also develop team-building and problem solving skills through various group work activities. By the end of the programme, they’re reintegrated into education and vital aspirations have been sparked.
Graham* was referred to the MCR Re-engagement programme in December 2016. His attendance at school last year was 18%, but had since dropped to 0%.
He faced significant challenges. He suffers from anxiety and struggles to socialise with people. The school he had been in made a placing request to see if an alternative school would help although this meant his new school was 2 bus rides away.
Graham attended MCR’s Re-engagement programme where he also had a review to understand why he didn’t attend school and to identify what support he needed.
Graham was involved in a variety of group work tasks and team building activities which helped him overcome his fears of socialising with others. This allowed him to get to know the group very quickly and reduce his levels of anxiety.
At the beginning of the programme Graham was shy, quiet and very withdrawn. After a couple of weeks he became more engaged. He attended several Talent Taster sessions which explored potential routes to a more positive pathway including Employment and Further Education. He now knows what he wants to do with his future and his view on education is more positive.
Sarah from Glasgow Children’s Panel was in touch with MCR Pathways. She was in Graham’s panel hearing where he shared his experience of the MCR Pathways Re-engagement Programme:
“I sit on Glasgow’s Children Panel and yesterday we were able to take a young man off Compulsory Supervision measures. The young man had truanted for the last 4 years but has now re-engaged with life solely because of the MCR programme. It was lovely to hear how this young man’s views on life and education had completely changed since his involvement in the programme. He is more positive, gets up in the morning, knows what job ultimately he would like to do, and is actively looking to do some volunteering work in the summer. His life has been completely transformed. As an MCR mentor, I felt immensely proud to be associated with an organisation that has had such a positive and dramatic impact on a young person’s life. It was heart-warming to hear how happy and confident this young man now was. The mum was thrilled that her son now had a purpose in life, and that social work’s involvement in their family life was going to be significantly reduced. It was very much a success story.
The MCR team are clearly doing a tremendous job!”
Graham’s mother was also delighted with the support her son had and shared the difference she has seen: “I’m so happy that Graham attended the MCR programme. It has changed his life. I can see it in him. Usually he wouldn’t go anywhere, now he is travelling to the other side of the city to go to College.
It was becoming likely that Graham would be placed into residential care given his challenges. It has been a major reversal. Now the supervision order has been taken away he is now relaxed I can see he is more happier”.
MCR is continuing to transform many young lives. Over 600 young people are being supported by MCR Pathways through our Young Glasgow Talent programme. From S1 to S6, they’re encouraged to find, grow and use their talents and skills. Young People are overcoming significant challenges and barriers. They’re motivated and motivating. Changing their own futures for the better. They need support to do this.
Can you offer just one hour a week? Simply by providing a listening ear you’ll make a huge difference to a young person’s 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 City Building, The Herald and Wheatley Group, get involved.
Help us spread the word by letting your friends and family know how hugely rewarding mentoring can be!
