A MAJOR project which seeks to help disadvantaged young people reach their potential in life has joined forces with one of Scotland's biggest companies.
MCR Pathways provides adult mentors for children who have experience of the care system, and is forming a partnership with housing and care provider The Wheatley Group.
The company is the latest to sign up to encourage staff to become mentors, joining businesses and public bodies such as Glasgow Life, Strathclyde University, Santander, Glasgow Kelvin College, the SECC and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
As well as providing mentors, it will also spearhead a new scheme dubbed Talent Tasters, a form of work experience designed to gently introduced pupils to aspects of life in the workplace.
Pupils start at entry level jobs for half a day or shift, moving on to the next level with a team leader, supervisor or specialist for an hour and a third level the head of an organisation.
MCR Pathways, which is supported by The Herald, has been working for several years in six schools in Glasgow, and recently launched its Young Glasgow Talent YGT campaign with plans to expand across the city.
It helps raise the aspirations of young pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing mentors who give one-to-one support and advice on how to access careers or a place in further education.
Wheatley and MCR will also work to ensure that young people can access Housing information through specialists who will visit schools to make sure young people understand their rights and ensure support is accessible when needed.
Three senior members of staff from Wheatley will to work full time with MCR Pathways for the next year to help build up the citywide plan.
Martin Armstrong, Wheatley CEO, said: “We have been working with Iain and his team for the last 18 months and this announcement is the accumulation of many discussions, developments, trials and some highly innovative initiatives.
"Our staff are already mentoring, but we are now extending the support through the MCR Pathways Talent Taster programme. Young people can have the choice to go and try out our wide range of jobs at various levels to see if it is something that could inspire and motivate them to consider as a future career."
He added: "The fundamental difference is we are doing this in a way that is sustainable for both our group and young people. It is stimulating both our staff and young people through showcasing a variety of housing, care and property management roles that make up our group.
"The MCR philosophy of ‘younger, wider’ is a highly effective approach we know works and also support our young people before they become vulnerable or in crisis."
The three-year year plan will target the recruitment of over 1000 mentors and other volunteers, and will be built on the success of an initial appeal backed by The Herald which attracted more than 750 people to register and become involved with MCR Pathways
MCR founder Iain MacRitchie said: “This partnership is simply pioneering in every respect. Wheatley Group is a fabulous example of what can immediately impact and greatly enhance every participant and in a way that is sustainable over the long term.
"Young people, company staff, mentors, schools and the companies themselves are all hugely positive after the tasters and all getting benefit form the experience.
"We are very grateful for the enthusiasm and support of the staff that are committed to driving through the changes and huge benefits for our young people."
See: www.youngglasgowtalent.org
Email: info@mcrpathways.org
Call: 0141 287 9681
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