Sharon McIntyre, MCR Pathways CEO:
“We welcome the publication of The Promise 24-30 plan and its proposed route map to achieve transformational milestones for care experienced young people. We view The Promise as the golden thread weaved through all of our work at MCR Pathways. We demonstrate this commitment through our current school-based mentoring programme and will ensure it is core to our future ambitions to develop our services in a post -school setting. Essential to this are our partner schools, Pathway Co-ordinators and collaborating organisations as well as our vibrant expanding community of dedicated volunteer mentors. They are equipping our young people with the vital skills, knowledge and experiences needed to aspire to an equality of educational outcomes, career opportunities, and life chances. Our young people’s experiences will always be our driving force and their voices are at the heart of everything we do. Our Young People led ambassador programme and Young National Advisory Board young people are important vehicles for change which will help us plan, shape, deliver and contribute to the ongoing operations and strategic direction of MCR and the programme.
MCR Pathways aim is to improve outcomes and transform the lives of young people across all of Scotland, and our personalised relationship-based mentoring programme has consistently proven to instrumentally support these aims. We are therefore encouraged that The Promise strives to provide care experienced young people with access to mentoring opportunities. Education and skills development are crucial in the wider scaffolding that supports care experienced young people in our society to ensure that we bridge the attainment gap and secure sustained positive destinations. But, in order to continue this delivery of essential mentoring support across the country, we cannot stress the importance of collective action and collaboration amongst those who serve the care experienced community. We must all embrace our commitment to making meaningful changes in the care system to create a better present and future for care experienced children, young people, families and adults in Scotland. We stand shoulder to shoulder with young people and partners to ensure such vital change.
As a sector, we have faced difficult times in recent years with funding uncertainties and tough fiscal climates. At MCR Pathways, we can see the disadvantage of a lack of comprehensive data and siloed policy has on the seamless high quality support young people need. We are determined to create a young person centred system together with key partners to ensure their needs are truly met and the risk of the system failing them is designed out through integrated service delivery approaches. We are also dedicated to ensuring that spending is clearly aligned and prioritised through an early intervention and prevention fiscal approach that addresses actual need and guarantees positive impact for and with care experienced young people.
We look forward to collaborating with Scotland’s leaders across society to strive to deliver The Promise for all care experienced young people in Scotland. As MCR Pathways’ CEO, on behalf of our board, staff, volunteers and most importantly, our young people, I share MCR Pathways’ promise to ensure we reach every young person in Scotland who needs and would benefit from a mentor and the transformational programme we offer.”
Billie, Young National Advisory Board member:
“Early intervention and ensuring that care experienced children have a voice in their plans are critical components of the “Keeping the Promise” Implementation Plan, components which I believe are extremely important to the success of it. A collaborative and effective approach is essential to provide these children with the best possible opportunities in life. Early intervention has consistently demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing crises and supporting family stability, making it a stand out principle of successful care strategies. It’s also a strategy I strongly believe in. Nothing should be left until it reaches the crisis stage.
I believe it is vital that all stakeholders—government agencies, local authorities, health services, educational institutions, and care organisations—remain committed to this principle.
Empowering care-experienced children to participate in decisions about their lives is equally important. When children and young people are given a say in their care plans, it gives them back a sense of ownership, dignity, and respect. Their insights and perspectives are invaluable in shaping services that truly meet their needs.
This plan’s collaborative approach seems to relay the importance that everyone involved is working together towards a common goal. When all parties fulfil their roles and responsibilities as promised, the plan has the potential to set a new gold standard for the care of our children.”