A GROUND-breaking project which helps disadvantaged young people reach their potential in life is to announce a three-year plan to set up in every school in Scotland’s largest city.
MCR Pathways provides adult mentors for children who have experience of the care system within six schools in Glasgow, but is now expanding its operation to cover all others. More than 750 mentors have joined the scheme and has attracted the support of institutions such as Glasgow Life, Strathclyde University, Wheatley Group, Santander, Glasgow Kelvin College, the SECC and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
An announcement on its expansion plan, named the The Young Glasgow Talent YGT campaign, will be made at a civic reception in the City Chambers on Thursday. The occasion will also be marked with an unveiling of an artwork inspired by the programme and painted by one of Glasgow’s world-class artists, Gerard Burns.
MCR founder Iain MacRitchie said: “Disadvantage is not a choice, it is something experienced. For young people it is through no fault of their own. It is not what we want to define, restrict or restrain them. The DNA and essence of the programme is about talent.
“The descriptions of disadvantage and wasted potential are not what motivate or engage young people. Young Glasgow Talent has a focus on talent and the support to help young people find, grow and use theirs. We are driven to ensure that young people will be determined by their talent and not their circumstances. In travelling the world and working with many gifted people, I am inspired by the character, talent and resilience of Glasgow’s young people. We are bridge builders to connect talent with opportunity and ensure we mentor and support our young people to realise their full potential. YGT is how and why we do what we do. We have lots of it across the city and with mentoring and our talent tasters programme it will absolutely flourish.”
MCR mentors work with children on a one to one basis and give them the benefit of their life experience. The idea is to steer vulnerable children into careers or further education which may have been blocked to them by their personal circumstances. The three-year year plan will target the recruitment of over 1000 mentors and other volunteers, and will be built on the success of an initial appeal backed by The Herald which attracted more than 750 people to register and become involved with MCR Pathways,
Magnus Llewellin, Herald and Times Editor-in-Chief said: “We are proud to have played a role in the success of the MCR Pathways. The work being done is inspirational and will have a positive impact on the city and all involved for decades to come.”
The Young Glasgow Talent Campaign was developed with the support of Maguires Advertising & Design Agency and Scott Taylor, who was instrumental in the People Make Glasgow campaign.
Around 250 people who have already signed up to be mentors will attend the civic reception.
Bailie Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning said: “As the new executive member for education I am delighted to endorse the wonderful partnership between the council and MCR Pathways. Working together over the last eight years mentoring and helping some of our most vulnerable young people has produced some amazing results. All our young people deserve the very best we can offer them – regardless of their personal circumstances – and I am looking forward to getting involved in this inspiring and powerful project.”
Note: The above article and associated photography is © Copyright 2016 Herald & Times Group. All rights reserved. This article was originally published on www.heraldonline.com on 2nd February 2016 and has been reprinted with permission.
