Last week, our Hertfordshire team closed the academic year in style with an End of Year Celebration, marking an incredible four years of supporting young people to see their potential, through the power of mentoring.
Hosted at Marriott’s School in Stevenage, the event brought together nearly one hundred of our dedicated mentors, staff, and supporters for an evening of reflection, connection, and celebration.
Since launching in Hertfordshire in 2021, mentors have given an astounding 22,577 volunteering hours of their time to support young people. Today, we’re proud to engage over 700 young people across nine schools, and we’re not stopping there.
Volunteer mentors share just one hour a week with a young person to build confidence, instil belief, awaken ambitions and expand their future horizons. Mentoring has proven to positively impact post-school destinations. Not a single young person participating in MCR Pathways mentoring programme across the South East of England has fallen into the NEET (not in education, employment or training) category after leaving school.
The event was a chance to reflect on this progress, share inspiring stories and quotes from mentors and young people, and look ahead to what’s next. A rolling display of photos and testimonials featuring on the large screen within the room highlighted the real, lasting impact our mentoring programme continues to achieve for young lives across the county.
A special highlight of the evening was recognising Sarah Birch, our dedicated Pathways Coordinator at Thomas Alleyne Academy. Sarah enrolled the very first young person onto the Hertfordshire programme and remains a cornerstone of support and encouragement for many more. Her commitment and passion embody what MCR Pathways is all about.
Lizzie Parkes, our Regional Operations and Events Manager, spoke at the event:
“Seeing so many of you here today shows just how much this programme matters. Whether you’ve been mentoring for years or only a few months, your dedication makes all the difference. Your energy, ideas, and commitment are what keep us going – we truly couldn’t do this without you. As we enter our fifth year and expand into new schools and our first college, we’re more inspired than ever. Thank you, and we can’t wait to welcome you all back in September!”
Next month, we’re thrilled to be expanding into Astley Cooper School in Hemel Hempstead and welcoming our first college partner, North Herts College. It’s a truly exciting time for our programme in the region.
If you can provide an hour each week and are passionate about helping young people to see their potential, sign up today at mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor
