Celebrating the power of mentoring that’s transforming young lives and expanding horizons in Falkirk
The recognition shines a light on the incredible impact of the mentoring programme across Falkirk. Since launching in schools in 2022, the programme has supported 117 young people, with 66 now matched with a mentor who shows up, listens and believes in them.
Every week, mentors from all walks of life dedicate just one hour to build confidence, instil self-belief, and awaken the ambition of young people who’ve had the most unfair starts in life. Through the power of mentoring, young people are supported to find their path to a brighter future.
The impact of the school-based mentoring service speaks for itself:
- 96% of young people say their confidence has improved
- 93% feel their mentor helped them understand what they can achieve
- 100% believe their mentor has helped them progress toward a positive destination after school
Research shows that care-experienced young people who do not receive MCR Pathways mentoring support are 23% less likely to progress to college, university, or employment compared to those who do.
In the words of the young people, reflecting on what they enjoy about having a mentor they have said it’s about; “Getting time with him. Have a good laugh, making a difference with being more open with people.”, sharing that they “Love meeting my mentor.” or having “Someone to talk to. Supportive. She understands me.”
Starting with group work in S1 and S2, MCR Pathways supports each young person throughout their education and beyond school. Working closely with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS), the organisation builds a strong support network around every young person to help them thrive at every stage of their journey.
The programme is currently embedded in Graeme High School and Falkirk High School, where it continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people.
The Organisation of the Year award recognises organisations that have made a significant impact within the Falkirk and District area. The winners will be announced at the CVS Falkirk and District Volunteer Awards ceremony on Tuesday, 3rd June at the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel.
Lauren Picken, Programme Manager for Falkirk, stated:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have been chosen as a finalist, and this is a testament to the team’s hard work on the ground who deliver the programme day in and day out.
Having recently launched a central model too, where a few young people from each school are matched with mentors, we are keen to support as many young people as possible and are willing to adapt our current models to suit the needs of our community, our young people and our schools.”
If you’re considering becoming a mentor, now is the time to sign up. Head to mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor to learn more.
