MCR Pathways brings award-winning mentoring programme to Dumfries and Galloway
26 October 2026
Young people across Dumfries and Galloway will have new opportunities to build confidence, recognise their strengths and realise their ambitions as MCR Pathways prepares to launch its award-winning mentoring programme across the region in January 2027.
Delivered in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council, Developing the Young Workforce and Skills Development Scotland, the programme will connect young people in secondary schools and further education with trained trusted adult volunteer mentors from their local communities.
By building consistent, trusted relationships, MCR Pathways helps young people develop confidence, stay engaged in learning and explore opportunities in further education, apprenticeships, training and employment.
Building on local strengths
The launch builds on the region’s strong foundations, with Skills Development Scotland’s Annual Participation Measure for 2025 reporting that 94.3% of young people aged 16–19 in Dumfries and Galloway were participating in education, employment or training. The region also recorded 664 Modern Apprenticeship starts during 2025–26, almost half involving young people aged 16–24.
The expansion marks another milestone in MCR Pathways’ growth. By the end of this academic year, the charity aims to operate across 200 secondary schools, further education and community settings in 24 Scottish local authorities.
It also supports the charity’s ambition for a Trusted Adult Guarantee, ensuring every young person who could benefit from a mentor has the opportunity to build a positive, supportive relationship with a trusted adult.
Since its foundation in 2007, MCR Pathways has supported around 18,000 young people.
An independent evaluation for the Scottish Government, carried out by Ipsos Scotland and published in March 2026, found that the programme has had a considerable positive impact on Care Experienced pupils in the schools where it runs. Three months after leaving school, an estimated 7 to 8 percentage points more of these young people were in a positive destination such as further or higher education, training or employment, and the gain was still 5 to 7 percentage points at nine months. The evaluation did not find a clear effect on attendance overall, although one of its methods estimated around 28,850 more days in school in S5 between 2014/15 and 2021/22.
The evaluation also estimates that every £1 spent on MCR Pathways for Care Experienced pupils returned between £2.30 and £2.80 in benefits to society. Read the evaluation: Scottish Mentoring and Leadership Programme: impact and value for money evaluation (Scottish Government, March 2026).
The power of having someone in your corner
Frazer Brown, MCR Pathways’ Head of Schools for the West of Scotland, said:
“Every day, we see the difference that a consistent, trusted adult relationship can make to a young person’s confidence, self-belief and ambitions for the future. We’re delighted to be working with our partners in Dumfries and Galloway to bring our mentoring programme to more young people and help them recognise their strengths and realise their potential.
“No two mentoring relationships are the same. Each is shaped around the individual young person, their interests and their aspirations. By giving a young person someone who listens, encourages them and believes in them, we can help build confidence, strengthen engagement in learning and open up new possibilities for the future.”
Alison Chambers, Quality Improvement Manager at Dumfries and Galloway Council, said:
“I am very pleased to welcome the development of MCR Pathways across Dumfries and Galloway. I see the programme as an exciting opportunity to build on the support available to young people, helping them to develop confidence, raise their aspirations and realise their potential. I am really looking forward to seeing our schools, mentors and wider partners working together to make a lasting difference for young people across the region.”
Andrea Hall, Skills Development Scotland’s Area Manager for the region, added:
“Skills Development Scotland works closely with MCR Pathways across Scotland, so it’s fantastic to see the programme coming to Dumfries and Galloway. Through this partnership and the power of mentoring, we can help more young people build confidence, recognise their strengths and take positive steps towards achieving their ambitions.”
Schools taking part in Dumfries and Galloway
The MCR Pathways programme will be introduced across 15 secondary schools and campuses in Dumfries and Galloway:
- Annan Academy
- Castle Douglas High School
- Dalbeattie High School
- Douglas Ewart High School
- Dumfries Academy
- Dumfries High School
- Kirkcudbright Academy
- Langholm Academy
- Lockerbie Academy
- Moffat Academy
- North West Community Campus
- Sanquhar Academy
- Stranraer Academy
- St Joseph’s College
- Wallace Hall Academy
Making a difference, one hour a week
The impact of trusted adult mentoring is reflected in feedback from young people taking part in MCR Pathways across Scotland. The charity’s latest programme survey found that:
- 99% said their mentor was a good role model
- 98% said mentoring helped them become the best version of themselves
- 95% said mentoring improved their confidence
These findings highlight the value of having someone who listens, offers encouragement and helps a young person recognise what they can achieve.
As the programme prepares to launch, MCR Pathways is encouraging adults across Dumfries and Galloway to consider becoming trusted adult volunteer mentors and making a lasting difference in a local young person’s life.
Volunteers give just one hour a week during term time to build a relationship around the young person’s interests, strengths and ambitions. No specialist qualifications or previous mentoring experience are needed, with full training and ongoing support provided by the charity.
Mentoring can be just as rewarding for volunteers, offering the opportunity to contribute to their community, develop communication and coaching skills, and see first-hand the difference that encouragement and belief can make.
Could you be someone in a young person’s corner?
Find out more about becoming a volunteer mentor with MCR Pathways.
