We’re excited to share that as of today, Thursday 21st August, we’ve launched a refreshed MCR Pathways brand.
While our name stays the same, our look and feel now better reflect the energy, ambition, and purpose behind our work, and what we aim to achieve in the future. This refresh isn’t about changing who we are, but about telling our story with renewed energy, passion, clarity and purpose.
Since earlier this year, our Brand Steering Group has been working with design agency Bright Signals to shape a new identity. The brief was simple: refresh our brand to keep communication at its core while reinvigorating how we share the power and impact of mentoring for young people, mentors, our team, and supporters.
Why We’re Keeping Our Name
It was time to consider changing our name.
We consulted staff, mentors, partners, and young people. Their response was clear: MCR Pathways is established, trusted and respected. So, we’re proudly continuing with the name that’s carried our mission since our foundation in 2007.
Igniting the Vital Spark
We’re boldly and vibrantly expressing the power of transformational change.
At the very heart of our refreshed brand is a simple belief: that every young person has a vital spark within them. This isn’t something that we give them, it’s something they already have – a unique potential and ambition waiting to be seen and set alight.
Our mentors become the catalyst that helps ignite this spark. Through encouragement and belief, they help young people find the confidence to pursue their passions and embrace transformative change. And the magic of mentoring is that it’s a two-way street. Just as mentors help a young person discover their inner light, they often find their own vital spark reignited. It’s what connects us, ignites ambition, and sparks a brighter future for everyone involved.
Our New Brand Manifesto
We’re launching a new manifesto, providing the ‘why’ behind everything we do.
Our refreshed brand is guided by a new manifesto that captures the essence of our purpose and vision. It’s a promise to every young person and a call to action for our entire community.
We see the spark. In every young person, there’s a flicker of ambition, a potential waiting to ignite. But for too many, an unfair start in life can dim that flame. Every day spent alone, navigating challenges without support, is a day further from the bright future they deserve. This is our challenge. This is our purpose.
We believe that no young person should be held back by their circumstances. We believe in the power of connection, the transformative potential of mentoring. We believe that a single spark of connection can change a life. We are MCR Pathways.
We’re more than a charity; we’re a movement. We’re a community of mentors, donors, colleagues, and partners, united by a shared belief: that every young person deserves someone to help them find their way.
We’re here to awaken ambition. To connect young people with mentors who believe in them, who guide them, who help them find their way. We’re here to provide the support, the encouragement, the spark that ignites their ambition.
We’re not just building pathways; we’re building futures. We’re not just offering help; we’re offering hope. We’re not just changing statistics; we’re changing lives. We are MCR Pathways.
A Fresh Look
To go with our new purpose and vision, we’ve updated our visual identity.
Our refreshed logo, new colour palette, and a focus on clean, modern fonts are designed to better represent our personality. Our graphic is inspired by speech marks, also in our logo, a symbol of communication, connection, and genuine friendship.
You’ll soon see our new brand visual identity at events, on advertisements, and across our social media channels. We’re also working on a brand new website, so please bear with us as we update everything to reflect our refreshed look and messaging.
We’ve also updated our social media toolkit for those who use it to share messages, images and update their email signatures. We encourage you to share our message in any way you can.
Lucy Richards, trustee and member of the brand steering group, shared her thoughts on the process: “I’ve been so impressed with the re-brand process.
The creative agency led the brand steering group thorough a series of engaging workshops and presentations. Our input was encouraged and valued, and each time we met, there was a new phase of development and refinement to discuss and build on.
From the sensitive ‘who, how, what’ consideration of naming, ambition, values, personality and principles, all the way through to articulation of the brand idea, visual identity execution, messaging, and the creation of a deeply inspiring brand manifesto – this is a robust piece of work that’s been handled with great care.
This is an important evolution set to shape the future for MCR Pathways – for all the young people, the mentors, the staff, donors and partners. This is something we can all feel part of and be truly proud of.”
Ready to Ignite a Vital Spark?
With this exciting change, there’s never been a better time to register as a mentor. Our refreshed brand is all about igniting the vital spark within every young person, and we can’t do that without mentors.
Do you have a few hours a week to share? Your time could be the spark that changes a young person’s life forever.
Become a mentor today and help us change lives through the power of mentoring. Sign up at mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor.
