Adults in Perth and Kinross encouraged to come forward as volunteer mentors
2 March 2026
Adults across Perth, Blairgowrie and Auchterarder are being encouraged to give just one hour a week to help meet growing demand for volunteer mentors supporting local young people.
More volunteers are urgently needed to help young people facing barriers and unique challenges to finding paths to brighter futures.
Mentoring means showing up with empathy
Deirdre Joy (pictured), from Perth, has been a mentor with MCR Pathways for five years and is now calling on others to get involved. “Mentoring means showing up with empathy,” she said. “Listening properly. Creating a space where a young person feels safe enough to be honest — and brave enough to imagine more for themselves. That consistency can change the direction of a young person’s life.”
Volunteer mentors are matched with young people in schools, where they meet weekly with local young people to build confidence, explore goals and reimagine what their futures could look like.
Full training and ongoing support are provided, with no academic or professional qualifications required.
Proven impact of mentoring across Scotland
Last year, MCR Pathways supported 5,930 young people across Scotland.
According to the charity’s most recent young person’s survey:
- 99% said their mentor was a great role model
- 96% said mentoring improved their confidence
- 95% said it helped them with goal setting
Young people like Claire have already experienced the benefits. “My mentor has a lot of life experience and has pushed me to try my best no matter the circumstances,” she said.
“Having a mentor is great for building confidence, having someone to talk to and helping to decide career paths and make choices.”
A personal reason to give back
For Deirdre, the role is deeply personal. “I’m someone who believes deeply in people, especially when they’re not yet sure they believe in themselves. “My working life has always been about supporting others to grow, and mentoring felt like a very natural extension of that. I was taken out of school at 15 against my will. I often think that if I’d had someone steady in my corner, I might have felt brave enough to hold on to my education.”
Deidrie added that connection is at the heart of mentoring. “It’s achieved by being real. By remembering what matters to them. By laughing when things are awkward. Trust isn’t built in big gestures — it’s built in small, consistent moments. The quiet growth in confidence is extraordinary. You see them begin to hold eye contact, speak up and consider new possibilities. They grow up in front of your eyes.”
Schools in need of mentors in Perth and Kinross
Mentors are currently needed to support pupils attending:
- Blairgowrie High School
- St John’s RC Academy
- Perth Grammar School
- The Community School of Auchterarder
Volunteers must be over 21 years old and are subject to PVG and reference checks.
Deirdre has a simple message for local adults considering the role: “You don’t need to be perfect or have all the answers. You just need to care — and to turn up. One consistent adult can change a trajectory. I’ve seen it. And it’s worth it.”
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer mentor, visit: www.mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor
