Developing a recipe for future success | Paula’s Volunteer Mentoring Experience in Fife
23 September 2026
MCR Pathways is expanding its reach across Fife, connecting Care Experienced young people and those navigating additional barriers to realising their ambitions with dedicated trusted adult volunteer mentors.
As our presence grows in local secondary schools, so does the need for adults from all walks of life, careers and experiences to step forward and give just one hour a week. You don’t need special qualifications to be a volunteer mentor: just the willingness to listen, be consistent, and stand in a local young person’s corner.
To show what mentoring looks like in practice, we caught up with Paula Van Hemert, a Fife-based volunteer mentor, to discuss her mentoring journey, the bond she built with a local young person through cooking, and why committing one hour a week is one of the most rewarding decisions you can make.
Getting to Know Paula
Please tell us a little about yourself—what you do for work, hobbies, pursuits, etc.
Paula: “I’ve been self-employed, running small businesses on the internet, but I’m in the middle of a career change and am studying to become a dog behaviourist. My main hobbies are my dogs, my rescue bunnies, and gardening, and I love to travel and learn something new every day.”
What motivated you to become a volunteer mentor with MCR Pathways?
Paula: “I’d like to make an impact on a young person’s life by having a chat, sharing my experiences, and giving support. I’ve always supported my own children both with schoolwork and with their hobbies and other pursuits, so I’d like to do that for other young people as well.”
Paula’s Mentoring Experience
What does the word ‘mentoring’ mean to you?
Paula: “Giving support and sharing experiences, lending a listening ear, and helping a young person find their path in life.”
Can you remember meeting your mentored young person for the first time? What were your first impressions?
Paula: “She was very shy and even avoided eye contact, although I could tell she was interested in starting our mentoring journey.”
Forming a connection is so important in mentoring. How did you build that connection?
Paula: “Once I discovered the young person loved cooking, we bonded over that. There’s so much less pressure when you do some cooking together (or any other activity, for that matter), as there are no awkward silences where you feel you need to chat. It’s perfectly fine to have some silence when cooking or doing craft, etc.”
What positive changes have you seen in your mentored young person since you started mentoring them?
Paula: “She became much chattier, telling unprompted stories, and she started joking around with me as well. She started attending more classes and started attending out-of-school activities that we looked at together.”
The Impact of Mentoring
Many mentors tell us that mentoring can have a positive impact on them too. Has being a mentor had an impact on you?
Paula: “Mentoring has increased my understanding of the unique challenges some young people face. Young people have also enriched my life by sharing their passions and letting me in on their journey. I find it really rewarding to see a young person grow their self-belief and knowing I’ve played a role in it.”
What qualities do you think make a great mentor?
Paula: “Good listening skills, empathy, and a good dose of humour.”
Adults across Fife bring skills from all walks of life. What do you bring from your day job that makes a difference when mentoring?
Paula: “People skills and experience with different personalities and backgrounds, organisational skills, and also experience with my own kids going through their school exams and higher education applications.”
Making the Time & Getting Started
We all have busy lives. How have you found the time to dedicate one hour a week, and what does that hour mean to you?
Paula: “I’m lucky to be self-employed and now studying, so my schedule has been fairly flexible. Mentoring is also an hour a week I really look forward to. I just try to squeeze it in, no matter what else is happening in my week, as I know a young person is relying on me.”
What was your experience of the training, and how manageable was it alongside your commitments?
Paula: “I found the training really good, and it doesn’t take up much time. Then there are optional training sessions, often during lunchtime. You can just pick whichever subject you’d like to know more about—for example, I’ve attended meetings about Mental Health and LGBTQ+, but there are also more practical subjects to help your mentored young person navigate financial barriers and applications to higher education.”
What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming a volunteer mentor with MCR Pathways?
Paula: “Please do it! It’s just an hour a week, but it can have a huge and lasting impact on a young person’s life.”
Become a Volunteer Mentor in Fife Today
As MCR Pathways continues to grow across schools in Fife, many young people are waiting for an encouraging adult to help them navigate their future.
- Time Commitment: Just 1 hour per week during the school term.
- Location: A local secondary school near you in Fife.
- Requirement: No prior experience needed—full training and ongoing support are provided.
Whether you’re self-employed, working full-time, studying, or retired, your life experience could change a young person’s story. Sign up to mentor with MCR Pathways today and make a lasting impact.
Register today: https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/
