Young Person Voice Project: Falkirk
16 April 2026
Care Experienced History Month is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look toward a future where every Care Experienced person is heard, valued, and empowered. We are marking the month by celebrating the power of youth agency through our Young Person Voice Project (YPVP).
The YPVP is more than just a community programme; it is a platform for leadership. By providing young people with the platform to take ownership of the budgets, we provide them with the space to solve local problems, lead their peers, and build the skills necessary for adult life. From managing finances and allocating resources to coordinating complex tasks, these projects demonstrate that when young people are given a seat at the decision-making table, they don’t just participate, they lead.
Since 2021, MCR Pathways has supported 4,525 Care Experienced young people across Scotland and England. This commitment is rooted in “Collaborative Power”, the fourth pillar of our Bridge the Gap Strategic Plan 2025-2028. Through this pillar, we aim to ensure that 90% of our key strategic and operational decisions are informed by the direct input of our mentors and young people.
In Falkirk, our Young Person Voice Project is showing exactly what happens when we give young people the opportunity to own and deliver projects to make positive changes in their own school environments. From ‘Kindness Crews’ to ‘Garden Gems’, these projects prove that leadership has no age limit.
Spreading Kindness at Denny High
At Denny High, ‘The Kindness Crew’ is well underway with its mission to spread kindness across the school community. The group chose to use its project funding to support those in need, making significant donations to the local food bank and the school’s Christmas Toy Appeal, which is run by a dedicated community group. Their focus on empathy and giving back has resonated throughout the school.
The Graeme Garden Gems at Graeme High
The young people at Graeme High have shown remarkable dedication to their local environment by volunteering to revitalise their school garden. Diligently spending their time planting flowers and vegetables, painting plant pots, and clearing debris, they aptly named their group the “Graeme Garden Gems.” Their commitment was so strong that many members volunteered their own time during the summer holidays to ensure the project continued to flourish.
Herb Gardening at Falkirk High School
Driven by a desire to contribute to their school community, young people from Falkirk High decided to plant and grow a variety of herbs. These home-grown resources are being donated to the school’s Home Economics Department for use in cooking classes. As an additional thoughtful gesture, the group also spent time painting and decorating bespoke plant pots to give to their teachers, showcasing both their gardening, kindness and artistic skills.
Join Us This Care Experienced History Month
The success of the YPVP shows what happens when young people are given the agency to lead. By becoming a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor for just one hour a week, you can help more young people in Falkirk to grow confidence as part of their journey towards positive, sustainable futures.
Become a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor for just one hour a week: mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor
