MCR Pathways
Mitchell Library,
Berkeley Street
Glasgow,
UK
G3 7DN
MCR Pathways is a SCIO regulated by OSCR,
Scottish Charity number SC045816
Contact Us
Our Trustees & Funders
Our Trustees are integral to the development and success of the programme. Our funders are helping to provide the essential resources to bridge the gap between potentials and futures.
MCR Trustees
MCR’s Board of Trustees set the strategic direction of the organisation and ensure we are focusing on the right things. Each member of the board brings a wealth of experience and wide-ranging skills, along with a passionate interest in overseeing the successful growth of the programme to help reach and engage more young people.
Maureen McKenna OBE
Chair of Trustees
Maureen is the recently retired Executive Director of Education in Glasgow City Council, a role she had for 14 years, and prior to that was one of Scotland’s HM Inspectors of Education. In her time at Glasgow City Council, the city set itself the ambition to be a Nurturing City. Outcomes for children and young people have been transformed. Exclusions have reduced by over 90% and attainment has notably increased.
Maureen is passionate about education. She has participated in a number of government working groups, including chairing a group which published Making Maths Count.
In 2015, she received an OBE for services to education in Glasgow and Malawi. In 2021, she received an honorary doctorate from Heriot Watt University for the impact of her work improving outcomes for children and young people experiencing disadvantage.
Dr Iain MacRitchie
Founder & Trustee
Iain’s career has taken him internationally in the transformation of 18 organisations and a trusted adviser to over 100 others. However, it was an experience in taking the leadership role of 3 failing residential care and schools’ organisations that created MCR Pathways.
Iain founded MCR Pathways in 2007 and has led the development of the transformational MCR mentoring and talent development programme from supporting its first young person to now over 3,000 each week.
Iain’s work in supporting the country’s most disadvantaged young people has been recognised by a number of awards including Glasgow’s St Mungo Medal, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Diversity, honorary doctorate and other national and international leadership awards. He became visiting professor at the University of Strathclyde in 2020.
Susanne Richards
Trustee
Susanne is one of two co-chairs of the Young National Advisory Board (YNAB) and has actively been involved with MCR for around a decade. As a care-experienced young person who benefitted from the programme and her mentor, she has first-hand knowledge and experience of the transformative impact MCR can have on young people, particularly those facing significant challenges.
Currently working as a Promise Participation Worker at Glasgow City Council, Susanne works closely with young people navigating the care system, advising policymakers and contributing to strategic external communications. Susanne brings a wealth of skills, including public speaking, strategic planning, and conflict resolution, paired with a strong sense of integrity and responsibility. She attributes many of these skills to her involvement with MCR, demonstrating the transformative impact of the programme.
Frankie Hamilton
Trustee
Frankie is the other half of the co-chair of the Young National Advisory Board (YNAB) and has been part of MCR Pathways for seven years, first joining the programme as a young person at 16. Frankie’s journey with MCR has shaped who they are today, and is passionate about continuing the positive impact the programme has had on them.
Through Frankie’s daily work dealing with the public as a supervisor, Frankie has developed strong skills in conflict resolution, handling tough conversations and making difficult decisions. Frankie takes pride in being a “glass half full” kind of person, always seeking opportunities for growth and development. In addition to their work, Frankie volunteers at a local youth group, offering fun activities and support to young people in the area. Frankie is deeply committed to giving back to their community and helping others.
Graeme Hannah
Trustee
Graeme is the Director of Sustainability & Social Impact (ESG) at Robertson Group. He is an experienced strategic leader, with almost a decade in senior roles guiding organisational strategy and transformation within the built environment sector. He has a proven track record in leading strategic functions, fostering collaborative partnerships, influencing senior internal and external stakeholders, and ultimately supporting commercial outcomes. Graeme is a qualified mental health first aider.
In addition to his role at Robertson Group, Graeme has passionately championed MCR Pathways, leading to the recruitment of around 20 mentors within Robertson and its supply chain. He’s committed to strengthening the partnership to amplify the impact on young people’s lives. He’s actively involved in various industry leadership groups, including Business in the Community and the Supply Chain Sustainability School, and brings expertise in ESG policy development, social impact reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Jen Crocket
Trustee
Jen is an experienced education leader with over 20 years in the sector, currently serving as Chief Education Officer for Argyll and Bute Council. She leads the development and implementation of education strategies across the region, focusing on equity, inclusion, and improving outcomes for all students. Jen has overseen significant improvements in school performance, including the development of initiatives to address non-attendance, enhance mental health support, and raise attainment.
Her leadership also extends to multi-agency collaboration, having worked closely with local, regional, and national partners to drive improvements in education services. Jen has played a key role in embedding the MCR Pathways programme in local schools and is committed to supporting care-experienced young people to achieve the best possible outcomes. With extensive experience in policy development, school improvement, and strategic planning, Jen has a strong track record of delivering positive outcomes for children and young people across Scotland.
Lucy Gray
Trustee
Lucy has over 30 years of experience in brand and communications. She is owner and Director of creative agency StudioLR, and founded its sister business Better Company – dedicated to leading creative projects that deliver a social impact. Over recent years Lucy’s worked with The Promise Scotland, Redress Scotland, Paths for All, The Scottish Prison Service and Spartans Community Foundation.
Lucy is a Board Trustee with CCE (Creativity, Culture, and Education), advocating for the integration of creativity in education across the globe. She is an Associate with The Promise Design School, where she supports initiatives that drive change for care experienced children, young people and their families. She also has a depth of knowledge in post-adoption support through training in NVR and Therapeutic, Connective Parenting. And as a mentor for MCR Pathways, Lucy witnesses first-hand the positive impact of mentoring on young people.
Mike McEwan
Trustee
Mike has over 30 years of experience in senior finance roles across a wide range of sectors. He has demonstrated expertise in governance, financial control, and risk management, having led finance functions at major organisations like Lloyd’s Register, where he managed the finance operations of their Digital Products business, with revenues exceeding £20 million. His experience spans systems implementation, process improvement, and driving business growth through strategic leadership. He is skilled at leading change, restructuring organisations, and developing strong relationships at all levels, from operations to boardrooms.
In addition to his finance career, Mike is deeply passionate about mentoring and has, since 2022, been a mentor with MCR Pathways, supporting a young person in their development. His personal experiences have fuelled his commitment to helping others. With a proven ability to quickly adapt to new environments, Mike brings a combination of financial acumen, strategic thinking, and a people-oriented leadership style that would contribute significantly to any organisation’s success. Mike is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.
Ryan McCuaig
Trustee
Ryan is a dual-qualified litigation lawyer with experience representing clients in various dispute resolution forums, including the Sheriff Court, JP Court, and the Court of Session. He has acted for a diverse range of clients, including businesses, third-sector organisations, public bodies, and individuals. Ryan’s charity governance experience includes leading the board of Who Cares? Scotland through a period of significant transition, including CEO recruitment, crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic, and securing a historic partnership with John Lewis. He also served on the Finance and HR sub-committee at Who Cares? Scotland and spent four years on the board of Lawcare, a charity which supports the mental health and well-being of legal professionals.
He has experience engaging with a variety of funders, including corporate, government, and individual donors. Ryan has worked with the media and built a strong public profile through social media and public speaking, focusing on the power of positive relationships and social mobility.
Felicity Evans MBE
Trustee
Felicity has dedicated over 40 years to improving outcomes for children and young people through an accomplished career in education and social care. She has held a variety of leadership positions, including roles in teaching and education services where she pursued her passion for enhancing opportunities and access to learning for disadvantaged children and young people. As the Virtual School Head for Hertfordshire County Council for twelve years, she discovered and championed MCR Pathways, presenting the programme to the authority’s secondary head teachers and enabling its rollout across 11 schools in the County.
In addition, Felicity is a trustee at Watford Palace Theatre, Chair of Trustees for Bedford, Cordery and Morrison Almshouse Charity, and a volunteer with Citizens Advice. She is also a Director for Spiral Academy Trust. In 2023, she was awarded an MBE in the first King’s New Year’s Honours for her outstanding services to children in Hertfordshire.
Geeta Subramaniam-Mooney
Trustee
Geeta is amongst some of the most qualified and accomplished senior leaders in Local Government and strategic public protection managers in English local government. She has over twenty years’ experience of operational, strategic and partnership leadership in Local Government including knitting together people and place services including children services, policing, community safety, preventative services, health and commissioning.
MCR Funders
We would like to thank our funders who play an essential role in the development and future of MCR Pathways. Through their support, we are able to continue to develop the programme and reach more young people as we grow across the country.
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The Henry Smith Charity
MCR Holdings
The Robertson Trust
The Gannochy Trust
The Hunter Foundation
Impetus
JP Morgan
Life Changes Trust
The Scottish Government
Bruno Schroder Trust
Impetus
Our Programme & Partnerships
Each school, in which we operate, has a dedicated Pathways Coordinator supporting young people and their mentors every week. Our Programme Managers work closely with each coordinator, the schools and the local authority links, as well as local partners who help ensure the success of the programme. Meanwhile, our mentor services team provides volunteers with full training and support.
Young people are supported by the programme from P7/Year 6 transition through to leaving school and beyond. The team are continually developing partnerships with local colleges, universities, employers and enterprises to engage young people in experiencing and considering their post-school pathways.
Working behind the scenes are the operational teams who establish and nurture partnerships, build awareness of the programme, deliver and maintain all systems and provide platforms including our Mentor and Young Person hubs.