Our Timeline
Our History
MCR Pathways was founded by philanthropist Iain MacRitchie. Iain succeeded in the business world by turning around failing corporations, but after improving the financial success of over 90 children’s homes and 5 residential schools, he realised these were not the changes that really needed to be made. The talents of these young people were left undeveloped and potential unrealised, forgotten completely as they turned 18. Iain realised the key to these young people’s success lay in education and that was the catalyst for the creation of MCR Pathways.
Where It All Began
MCR Pathways began at St Andrew's RC Secondary in Glasgow's East End. At the school, results for care-experienced young people were significantly below their peers. The small team began providing dedicated support to care-experienced young people in the school.
The goal was to develop these young people’s confidence and talents by giving individualised attention to each child’s specific story.
The goal was to develop these young people’s confidence and talents by giving individualised attention to each child’s specific story.
It soon became clear that introducing a mentor, a reliable, supportive adult, was a key way to bring stability to the lives of these young people.
Glasgow’s Executive Director of Education became a champion for the programme and approved the expansion of MCR into 5 new schools. The number of young people supported rose to 350.
Glasgow’s Executive Director of Education became a champion for the programme and approved the expansion of MCR into 5 new schools. The number of young people supported rose to 350.
In 2016, we brought a further 9 schools onboard, bringing the number of young people supported to 600.
Now in 15 schools, the impact of mentoring could be felt across the city and more wonderful individuals and organisations pledged to support Glasgow's young people. The number of mentors hit a record 500 this year.
Now in 15 schools, the impact of mentoring could be felt across the city and more wonderful individuals and organisations pledged to support Glasgow's young people. The number of mentors hit a record 500 this year.
MCR and Glasgow City Council formed a revolutionary partnership to transform the lives of vulnerable young people and bring mentoring across Glasgow over three years. However, the MCR team and the Council soon decided that they didn’t want to delay.
With young people as our inspiration, we expanded mentoring into all Glasgow secondary schools in November 2017, doubling the number of young people supported from 600 to more than 1200.
With young people as our inspiration, we expanded mentoring into all Glasgow secondary schools in November 2017, doubling the number of young people supported from 600 to more than 1200.
In 2018, we began our national expansion and brought mentoring into Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
We also released our Impact Report, data collected and published by Glasgow City Council, which showed outstanding results. An amazing 86% of mentored care-experienced young people progressed to a positive destination - college, university or full-time work - compared to just 50% of care-experienced young people nationally.
By the end of the year we were supporting more than 1500 young people.
We also released our Impact Report, data collected and published by Glasgow City Council, which showed outstanding results. An amazing 86% of mentored care-experienced young people progressed to a positive destination - college, university or full-time work - compared to just 50% of care-experienced young people nationally.
By the end of the year we were supporting more than 1500 young people.
In 2019, MCR continued creating partnerships across the country and introduced our programme into schools in West Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, North Ayrshire, and Edinburgh.
During this trying year when so many young people faced uncertainty, we managed to launch in new areas such as Clackmannanshire, Shetland and Perth & Kinross. In addition to this, we expanded to 9 schools in Edinburgh and 6 in Aberdeen.
While 2021 was much like 2020 in a lot of ways, the MCR programme expanded and reached new areas of the country. This year we launched in the Highlands and, for the first time, launched across English schools, in Hertfordshire. In addition to this, we also expanded to 6 schools in North Ayrshire.
In 2022, we reached 15,000 young people across the country. We have expanded into Dundee, East Lothian, Falkirk, Fife and Inverclyde. With some normality finally returning, we’re determined to build on the success of 2021 to help even more young people be all that they can.
