Acclaimed school mentoring programme launches in Inverclyde
Inverclyde Council and award-winning charity MCR Pathways have joined forces to provide a life-changing mentoring programme to two secondary schools in the region; Notre Dame High School and Inverclyde Academy.
MCR Pathways will work with care-experienced young people and other pupils who would benefit from the charity’s support by introducing them to the Young Inverclyde Talent programme in their schools. Young people are matched with a volunteer mentor to help them build confidence, overcome challenges, and focus on a positive future.
At the core of MCR’s model are weekly mentoring sessions between a young person and their mentor, who commits an hour of their time to meet in school each week. Mentors are fully trained and share their time to listen and encourage a young person.
Fay Gingell, CEO of MCR Pathways, said: “We are absolutely delighted to begin working with Inverclyde Council. MCR mentoring is not just making a significant impact on educational outcomes for Scotland’s young people, but also to their confidence and wellbeing, so we are really excited to begin working in Inverclyde.
"We are already looking for mentors to make a difference for young people who would really benefit from this vital support. Our volunteers come from all walks of life; anyone can be a mentor, they just need an hour a week and the desire to make a difference. We’d also love to hear from local employers who would like to support staff to get involved. Mentors and their employers gain massively from the experience for relatively little time commitment.”
Councillor Jim Clocherty, depute leader of Inverclyde Council and convener of education and communities, said: “This is a terrific programme that provides invaluable experience to young people and I’m delighted it is now being rolled out here in Inverclyde.
“We have a proud track record in supporting and nurturing our children and young people to help them fulfil their potential and this partnership with MCR Pathways is another excellent resource, particularly for care-experienced young people.
“Having access to a mentor can really help a young person to build their confidence, broaden their horizons and provide encouragement to achieve their ambitions in life and I look forward to seeing this programme working towards those goals.”
The charity’s impact is measured by young people’s rates of staying-on for 5th and 6th year, attainment and progression to positive destinations.
Established in 2007, MCR Pathways currently provides support to over 3,500 young people throughout Scotland each week and the programme has recently expanded into a total of 16 local authorities.
Further information on the MCR Pathways programme and how to become a mentor is available at www.mcrpathways.org. Volunteers will be fully trained – they just need to give an hour per week to change a life.
For more information in becoming a mentor, visit www.mcrpathways.org or email inverclyde@mcrpathways.org