There is potential in each and every young person, but circumstances make it difficult for many of them to realise it. Our aim is to help young people unlock this potential, realise their skills, and progress onto a positive destination.
Each young person has enormous talent, however care-experienced and other pupils facing disadvantage often struggle to engage with school because of instability in their personal lives. This can also be the case for other young people we aim to support including young carers, asylum seekers or those who have suffered significant family bereavement for instance.
In 2013/2014, prior to the introduction of mentoring, only 22% of Scottish care-experienced young people stayed on in school after age 16. International research shows that the longer young people stay at school past the statutory leaving age the better their longer-term outcomes. And the evidence is substantiated – prior to the introduction of mentoring, fewer than half of our care-experienced young people progressed to full-time employment, college or university, now 86% of our mentored young people do. By connecting each young person with a mentor, we can give pupils the support they need to succeed.
We support young people with diverse, engaging and inspiring opportunities to help them identify their talent and have the confidence to progress to a positive post-school destination. We engage young people through:
S1 and S2 pupils work with their school’s Pathways Coordinator and participate in weekly group work sessions. These are focused on building confidence and life skills, and also improving Literacy and Numeracy levels. This allows the Coordinator to build trust and an individual relationship with each young person, preparing them for mentoring.
Talent Tasters are a chance for young people to try out work, further and higher education and cultural experiences through manageable, bite-sized sessions. They are designed by young people, for young people and to engage and inspire pupils with hands-on learning opportunities. They provide more options for young people to find their talents and focus on the pathways to achieve their ambition.
Each young person is matched with their own mentor from S3 stage onwards. Pupils meet with their mentor once a week for 50 minutes and receive guidance and support. Mentors build a relationship, helping their young person to develop confidence and self-esteem. We ask our mentors for a commitment of at least one year.
Ambassadors are the voice of MCR young people. The programme brings together pupils to inform and shape the development of the MCR programme. Ambassadors represent both MCR Pathways and the voices of young people like them at local and national events. This gives them the opportunity to have a real say in the policies that affect them.
MCR transforms lives. In our most recent 2018 Impact Report, 86% of mentored leavers progressed to positive destinations (full-time employment, further education, or higher education) vs. 51% of care-experienced non-mentored leavers.
There’s amazing potential in the young people we support, potential that’s often buried because of difficult life experiences. Mentors bridge talent with opportunity. By spending just one hour a week listening and being there for your young person you will empower them to unlock their potential.
“It’s that sense that you’re much more willing to talk to a stranger about issues than you are to someone you have known your full life.”
“I set goals and figured out what I was interested in and what I was passionate about.”
Mitchell Library,
Berkeley Street
Glasgow,
UK
G3 7DN
MCR Pathways is a SCIO regulated by OSCR,
Scottish Charity number SC045816