MCR Pathways supports the Who Cares? Scotland ‘Action on Advocacy’ call on the Scottish Government to enshrine the right and access to independent, relationship-based lifelong advocacy for all care experienced people who need it in The Promise Bill.
The campaign aims to ensure the bill, expected in June 2025, is fit for purpose in making sure conclusions of the Independent Care Review are implemented in full by 2030. Having launched in 2020, Scotland is halfway in its respective journey in keeping the promise: that said it is widely agreed more needs to happen and the pace of change needs to increase.
Scotland must have a clear legislative, enabling environment. This must declutter the current policy landscape around care, so that all care experienced children and adults (a) understand the processes which exist around them and (b) know their rights and how to use these.
That’s why MCR Pathways has proudly signed this Partnership Statement of Support.
MCR Pathways supports mentors from all walks of life, often with no prior experience of mentoring, to help young people, from care experiences, who have had the most unfair start in life, to find their path. These transformal mentor relationships is a fundamental way we contribute in delivering The Promise Scotland alongside partnership activity, to construct wider scaffolding of support necessary for many young people to realise their potential and thrive.
Through our programme, mentors dedicate an hour a week in schools across Scotland, who bring a passion for building confidence, instilling self-belief, awakening ambition and much more. A total of 5,109 young people were mentored across Scotland last year, which equated to over 63,000 mentoring hours delivered.
Our latest end of year survey for care experienced young people evidenced that 95% of respondents said a mentor was a good role model, 85% said mentoring helped instill self-belief and 83% said it both improved their confidence and helped them understand their talents and strengths.
Moreover, our research has shown that care-experienced young people who do not receive MCR Pathways mentorship support are 23% less likely to progress to college, university, or employment compared to those who do.
That’s why MCR Pathways has proudly signed this Partnership Statement of Support, as part of our continued commitment to ensuring care experienced young people face no barriers to finding their path towards a life of fulfillment and limitless possibilities across Scotland.
Find out more about our influencing and policy work.
Find out more about becoming a mentor where you are.
