Every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and explore where it could take them. Now, MCR Pathways and Spark Design Academy are teaming up to bring trusted adult mentoring and creative learning together, opening up new possibilities for young people across the North East.

MCR Pathways’ mentoring programme connects young people with trained volunteer trusted adult mentors who offer consistency, encouragement and belief. Meeting for an hour each week in schools, further education and community settings, volunteer mentors help young people recognise their strengths, build self-belief and successfully progress to further education, apprenticeships and employment.

Spark Design Academy brings a complementary opportunity through practical, industry-inspired creative learning. Its programmes encompass football kit design, innovation, manufacturing, presentation skills and the wider creative design process, giving young people opportunities to experiment with ideas, develop practical abilities and discover where their creativity could take them.

The Academy’s educational offer includes NCFE customised qualifications, alongside its Pro Designer Bundle of online courses. What makes its approach distinctive is the connection between learning and real-world industry experience. Co-Founders, Rob Warner and Craig Buglass, bring decades of experience working with leading international brands, including Nike, Dunhill, Belstaff, Lululemon and Puma, helping bring the creative process to life and giving young people insight into how ideas can develop into products, brands and opportunities.

Pictured (from left-to-right) – Sharon McIntyre, MCR Pathways Chief Executive Officer and Craig Buglass, Spark Design Academy Co-Founder, during the official signing of the partnership agreement.

At the heart of this approach is a belief that young people learn in different ways. Practical, creative experiences can offer alternative routes to engagement for those who may not thrive in traditional academic environments, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and neurodivergent young people.

By creating opportunities to explore, innovate, solve problems and develop skills through doing, Spark Design Academy aims to help more young people recognise their strengths, discover new interests and see what they can achieve.

Together, MCR Pathways and Spark Design Academy are bringing trusted adult relationships and creative opportunities into the same conversation. A supportive adult can help a young person find the confidence to try something new, while hands-on creative learning can provide a practical way to explore interests, develop abilities and discover opportunities they may not previously have considered.

The ambition is not to steer every young person towards a career in design. It is to help more young people discover what interests them, recognise what’s possible and feel supported to explore what comes next.

Building on a shared commitment to brighter futures in the North East of England

MCR Pathways expanded its award-winning mentoring programme into Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough in 2025. Brighter Futures United builds on that work, bringing together mentoring, creative learning and industry connections to help more young people explore their potential.

Across the North East, supporting young people to engage with education and progress into further and higher education, apprenticeships and employment remains an important priority. Achieving this means creating meaningful opportunities while ensuring young people have the relationships, encouragement and support to make the most of them.

By combining the consistency of a trusted adult relationship with practical skills development and exposure to the creative industries, MCR Pathways and Spark Design Academy want to help young people broaden their horizons, strengthen their belief in their abilities and take their next steps with greater confidence.

Bringing the partnership to life at Academy 360

The partnership will begin at Academy 360 in Sunderland, providing an opportunity to pilot the approach in practice. An initial cohort of five young people will begin Spark Design Academy’s online Pro Designer course this month, exploring research, creative design, manufacturing and presentation through industry-inspired learning. On completion, they will work towards an NCFE customised qualification at Level 2, while developing practical skills and a portfolio of creative work.

Combined with the encouragement of their trusted adult mentor through weekly mentoring sessions and support from MCR Pathways colleagues at Academy 360, experiences aim to help young people build confidence in their abilities and feel more prepared to explore opportunities in education, training and employment.

Speaking during an introductory session at Academy 360 which was held for pupils and mentors, one of the cohort about to begin her learning journey through the partnership said: 

“I was intrigued because I thought, how on earth am I in the same room as people who designed the World Cup football kit? 

“You’d never think that people who had done something so big would come to our school, but they did. I’m most excited about the possibility that I might be able to have a future in this industry. Having a qualification that other people might not have is always good on your CV.”

That excitement was matched by MCR Pathways mentors in the room: 

“I think it’s really important, too. It’s very exciting – the idea of, “What do I do next? What can I do next?” If somebody gives you permission to be creative, then there’s no limit. Sometimes you just need to be given that permission, and I think this is the perfect way to do that.”

I hope that she (mentee) gets some self-confidence. I know that she would be able to do this course brilliantly and present her ideas, but I want her to enjoy that feedback and support, and really take that on board; because that’s what’s going to push her. It’s not just about how good your ideas are; it’s about how you present them. So I’m really hoping that with that self-confidence, she’ll be able to do anything after this.”

Connecting young people with a growing creative industry sector

Brighter Futures United comes at a time when the creative industries are an important part of the North East’s economic ambitions.

Employment across the North East’s wider creative industries grew by 67% over the past decade, according to the North East Local Growth Plan 2025–2035. The Plan identifies creative industries and content as a key opportunity for future economic growth. This creates a timely opportunity to help more young people understand the range of skills, roles and career pathways available to them.

Through its industry-informed programmes, Spark Design Academy helps young people explore the creative process beyond the finished product. From developing ideas and understanding manufacturing to communicating concepts and presenting their work, participants can gain insight into different aspects of how creative industries operate and the skills they value.

These experiences can offer value well beyond a future career in design. Exploring ideas, solving problems, collaborating and developing practical skills can help young people build confidence and recognise strengths they can take into further education, apprenticeships, employment and other areas of life.

For young people who find conventional classroom approaches challenging, different ways of learning can also help make new interests and possibilities more accessible. Practical, creative experiences can provide opportunities to demonstrate abilities, develop skills and build confidence in ways that complement more traditional learning.

Combined with the consistency and encouragement of a trusted adult mentor, these experiences can help young people recognise their potential and feel more confident about taking their next steps.

Brighter Futures United aims to make these possibilities more visible and accessible, helping young people connect their interests with opportunities to learn, grow and plan for the future.

Why trusted adult relationships matter

As MCR Pathways continues to establish its programme across the North East of England, Brighter Futures United draws on a wider evidence base demonstrating the value of relational mentoring through the charity’s work in Scotland which began in 2007.

An independent evaluation by Ipsos Scotland released earlier this year estimated that every £1 invested in the programme generated between £2.30 and £2.80 in societal and economic benefits. The evaluation also identified improvements in outcomes including school retention, attainment and positive destinations after leaving school.

These findings relate to the programme evaluated in Scotland and are not a measure of Brighter Futures United’s impact. They nevertheless provide important context for understanding the potential value of consistent, trusted adult relationships in supporting young people’s education and future prospects.

At MCR Pathways, the ambition is clear: until every young person who could benefit from a volunteer mentor has one in their corner. Through Brighter Futures United, MCR Pathways and Spark Design Academy are bringing more people, organisations and opportunities together to help turn that ambition into reality.

Leadership united behind a shared ambition

Leaders from both organisations share a belief that young people benefit when encouragement, opportunity and different approaches to learning come together.

Sharon McIntyre, CEO of MCR Pathways, said: “We’re thrilled and proud to partner with Spark Design Academy, an organisation that shares our unwavering commitment to supporting young people. 

“Through trusted adult volunteer mentor relationships, industry-led skills development, and consistent support, this collaboration combines mentoring with Spark Design Academy’s innovative model to help young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. By investing in young people’s potential today to empower the future workforce, this partnership helps them realise their capabilities and build the self-belief needed to pursue creative career aspirations, progressing into positive destinations such as further education, higher education, apprenticeships, training, or employment.”

Craig Buglass, CEO of Spark Design Academy, said: Craig Buglass, CEO of Spark Design Academy, said: “We’re thrilled to join forces with MCR Pathways in this truly innovative collaboration, bringing creative learning and trusted adult relationships together to open up new possibilities for young people in Sunderland.

“By investing in young people today, we can help make tomorrow full of promise, fresh opportunities and bigger dreams for the next generation. Through industry-inspired learning, we want to help young people discover their talents, develop new skills and see where their creativity could take them. We couldn’t be more excited about the journey ahead and the brighter futures we can help build together.”

Brighter futures are built together

Through Brighter Futures United, MCR Pathways and Spark Design Academy are bringing their expertise together to help more young people across the North East feel supported, explore their possibilities and take their next steps with confidence.

By combining trusted adult relationships with practical, industry-informed creative learning, the partnership recognises that there is no single route to discovering potential and no learning journey is the same as another. Young people deserve opportunities to learn in different ways, develop their strengths and imagine futures they may not yet have considered.

Because when trusted relationships, creative opportunities and communities come together, we can help more young people see a future full of possibility, and give them the support to pursue it.

Together, we’re turning passion into possibility, potential into opportunity and achievement into sustained positive destinations in the North East of England.

Step onto the pitch: four ways to get involved

Brighter Futures United is bigger than one partnership or one pilot. It’s about bringing people together across the North East of England so more young people can access trusted relationships, discover their strengths and explore new opportunities.

MCR Pathways’ mentoring programme is already running in schools across Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland. Through Brighter Futures United, we also want to build on that foundation, bringing together volunteer mentors, businesses, policymakers, education providers and the wider community to help create brighter futures for young people.

Whether you can give an hour a week, open doors to new opportunities, influence policy or help share these stories, there is a place for you on the team.

The invitation is simple: play for the shirt.

Help us make sure more young people have someone in their corner.

 

1. Potential volunteer mentors | Join the squad

One hour a week. One young person in your corner. A world of possibility.

Could you be the trusted adult who helps a young person recognise their strengths and believe in what they can achieve?

MCR Pathways welcomes adults from all walks of life aged 21 and over, including Spark staff, partners and alumni. You don’t need to be a teacher, coach or creative professional. You simply need to be willing to listen, encourage and show up consistently.

With training and ongoing support, you could help a young person discover new possibilities, one hour at a time.

Ready to take your place on the team?

Find out more about becoming a volunteer mentor.

 

2. Policymakers | Back the Trusted Adult Guarantee

Every young person who could benefit from a trusted adult should have someone in their corner.

Partnerships can open doors, but lasting change also needs a shared commitment to making trusted relationships accessible to the young people who could benefit from them.

We are calling on policymakers to back the Trusted Adult Guarantee and help make access to a trusted adult a reality for every young person who could benefit.

Get onside and help make the Trusted Adult Guarantee a reality.

 

3. Partners | Create home advantage

Local connections can unlock local opportunities.

Local authorities, businesses, community organisations, employers and education providers all have a role to play in helping young people connect with the people, skills and opportunities around them.

By working together, we can help young people explore their strengths, build confidence and discover possibilities within their communities and beyond. Employers and creative-industry professionals can bring learning to life by sharing their experience, offering insight into different careers and helping young people understand how their interests might translate into future opportunities.

Bring your connections, experience and opportunities to the team.

 

4. Media | Bang the drum for brighter futures

Help more people see what becomes possible when young people have someone in their corner.

Stories can celebrate young people’s strengths, challenge assumptions and inspire others to get involved.

Through our Meet the Squad profiles, mentoring stories and creative projects, we want to share the experiences of young people, volunteer mentors and partners, showing how relationships and opportunities can help young people look to the future with confidence.

Help us bang the drum. Share a story and inspire others to play their part.

marketing.comms@mcrpathways.org