MCR Pathways nominated for Charity of the Year at Ayrshire Business Awards 2026
7 September 2026
MCR Pathways is delighted to announce that it has been shortlisted for Charity of the Year at the Ayrshire Business Awards 2026.
The charity has been nominated for the second year in a row, recognising the positive impact of its mentoring programme across the region. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 02 October 2026.
Katie Brown, Programme Manager for MCR Pathways across Ayrshire, highlighted the significance of the recognition:
“We’re delighted to be shortlisted for Charity of the Year for a second year in a row. That’s an honour, really, a privilege. But most importantly, it allows us to shine a light on the impact that we’re having across Ayrshire, and hopefully gives us a bit further reach and scope to support even more young people in the future.”
MCR Pathways’ programme began in North Ayrshire six years ago, when it was introduced in local secondary schools. Since then, 807 local young people have been supported through group work and one-to-one mentoring, helping young people build confidence, recognise their strengths and develop their aspirations for the future.
The programme has also continued to evolve, including through a community-based mentoring pilot delivered in partnership with CentreStage in Kilmarnock. The initiative has taken MCR Pathways’ award-winning mentoring model beyond the classroom and into wider spaces where young people feel familiar, comfortable and connected.
Strong local partnerships have been central to this progress. Working alongside organisations including North Ayrshire Council and CentreStage has helped MCR Pathways connect with wider community networks and bring together people who share a commitment to supporting young people at a time when they can benefit most from a trusted adult volunteer mentor.
Listen more to what Katie has to say about the nomination and expansion of MCR Pathways programme expansion in Ayrshire below.
Help us reach more young people through mentoring
As MCR Pathways looks to build on the momentum achieved across Ayrshire, volunteer mentors are needed to help ensure more young people can benefit from the power of a trusted adult volunteer mentor relationship.
Becoming a mentor doesn’t require specific qualifications or a specialised background. What matters most is being someone who is kind, consistent, willing to listen and prepared to be in a young person’s corner.
As Katie explains:
“You do not need to have any sort of qualifications, although the word ‘mentoring’ might suggest otherwise. You don’t. You just need to have a willingness to want to support a young person, to be in their corner. In Ayrshire, we look after our own, and we like a blether! So if you would like to blether with a young person for an hour a week, we would love to have you on board.”
Listen to Katie’s full message below.
Becoming a mentor takes just one hour a week – an hour to listen, encourage and be the supportive presence every young person deserves.
If you’re looking for a simple but meaningful way to give something back to your local community as schools return across Ayrshire, you could help shape a young person’s future through mentoring.
Find out more about becoming a volunteer mentor with MCR Pathways.
