MCR Pathways is delighted to finalise a partnership agreement with Blackwood Homes and Care Group, which is based in Edinburgh.

The partnership will help ensure more young people across Scotland gain vital access to a trusted adult mentor to overcome barriers, navigate challenges, and realise their full potential.

Through the collaboration, Blackwood employees will be supported to give one hour a week during working hours to mentor young people in schools, further education, and community settings. Volunteers will receive comprehensive training and ongoing guidance to help young people build self-belief and pave pathways into positive, sustainable futures, including education, apprenticeships, and employment.

Beyond one-to-one mentoring, the partnership will explore wider collaborative school initiatives, delivering aspirational sessions that showcase diverse career pathways within the care and social housing sectors.

Pictured, from left to right, Fiona Ralph, Organisational Development Manager at Blackwood Home and Care Group, Susan Buglass, Strategic Partnership Lead at MCR Pathways, Sharon McIntyre, CEO MCR Pathways and Jason MacGilp CEO Black Home and Care Group.

Proven Impact Across Scotland

Since MCR Pathways was founded in 2007, an estimated 18,000 young people have been supported by trusted adult volunteer mentors on paths to brighter futures. The charity currently operates in 200 secondary schools, further education, and community settings across 23 Scottish local authorities. For every £1 invested in the programme, society gains £2.80 in social return through higher lifetime earnings and wider social outcomes.

The human, educational, and community impact of this support is clear:

• Post-School Success: According to MCR Pathways’ 2025 Annual Report, 89% of mentored Care Experienced young people progressed to positive post-school destinations, far outperforming national baselines.
• Confidence & Trust: 97% of mentees report improved confidence, higher aspirations, and stronger adult trust, while 96% state their mentor helped them recognize their personal talents and strengths.
• Mutual Benefit: Across more than 103,000 annual volunteering hours, 89% of mentors report finding deep personal fulfillment, while gaining enhanced active listening skills and a richer understanding of the modern challenges young people face.

A Shared Vision for National Reach

Behind these figures are thousands more young people across Scotland who still need someone in their corner. Partnering with values-driven organisations like Blackwood directly supports MCR Pathways’ strategy to extend its reach and campaign for a National Trusted Adult Guarantee: a future where every young person who could benefit from a mentor gets one.

Furthermore, this collaboration aligns with parliamentary priorities around education, skills, social justice, and child poverty reduction. By embedding support directly in schools, the partnership demonstrates how mentoring acts as a policy-proven mechanism to narrow the attainment gap and drive long-term social equity.

“We’re thrilled and proud to partner with Blackwood Homes and Care Group, an organisation that shares our unwavering commitment to young people,” said Sharon McIntyre, CEO of MCR Pathways.

“Through trusted adult relationships, mentoring helps young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose. Volunteer mentors play a vital role in helping them access support, realise their potential, and build the self-belief needed to pursue their career and life ambitions. This collaboration creates a bespoke opportunity for young people in communities where Blackwood operates, amplifying our impact and helping them progress into positive, long-term destinations.”

Jason MacGilp, chief executive of Blackwood Homes and Care Group, said:“Our people bring an incredible range of skills, knowledge and life experience to Blackwood, and this partnership gives them an opportunity to use that experience to make a difference beyond their day-to-day roles.

“MCR Pathways shares our belief in helping people recognise their potential and Live Life to the Full. We’re proud to be working together to support young people across Scotland, while giving our own people an opportunity to learn and develop through mentoring.

Pictured, left to right, Sharon McIntyre, CEO MCR Pathways and Jason MacGilp, CEO Blackwood Home and Care Group.

“I’m absolutely delighted that we’ve signed this partnership,” added Fiona Ralph, Organisational Development Manager at Blackwood, who has been an MCR Pathways Volunteer for the past year.

“Although we support different communities, we’re united by the same purpose: supporting people and helping them live their lives to the fullest. I was incredibly fortunate to have parents who supported me every step of the way, but they could only share their own life experiences. Imagine having someone completely separate in your corner—someone with different skills and a career path you may never have considered. That’s what makes mentoring so powerful. It opens doors, broadens horizons, and gives young people the confidence to explore what’s possible.”

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From businesses and local authorities to charities, schools, and community organisations, everyone has a role to play in ensuring every young person has someone to help them find their path.

Learn more about becoming a corporate, education, or community partner: mcrpathways.org/support-us

Find out how to become a volunteer mentor: mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor