MORE than 80 per cent of children in a ground-breaking project which helps disadvantaged young people reach their potential in life left school and are in further education or employment, new figures reveal.
Research shows that 82 per cent of MCR Pathways mentored young people across 10 schools who left in the summer are now in work or education.
MCR Pathways provides adult mentors for children who have experience of the care system within six schools in Glasgow, but is now expanding its operation to cover all others.
The figures compare with 48.8 per cent of care experienced young people in Glasgow who went from school to employment, university or college 2 years ago
MCR Pathways - which is supported by The Herald - are now recruiting thousands more volunteers to meet the demand and break the vicious cycle that our most disadvantaged young people experience.
More than 750 mentors have joined the scheme and has attracted the support of institutions such as Glasgow Life, Strathclyde University, Wheatley Group, Santander, Glasgow Kelvin College, the SECC and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
MCR founder Iain MacRitchie said: "We are now on track to reach just over half of the city’s most disadvantaged young people to help them find, grow and use their talents through our mentoring and talent taster programmes.
"When our young people are supported over at least a year, the results are incredible. It is a very emotional experience to see the profound impact of a mentor who can spend the time each and every week.
"We need many thousands more volunteers and when we do we will slam shut the attainment gap.
"There are so many committed people working to make this happen. When one person is mentored two lives are changed with the positive impact on the mentor and the organisation they work for. Everyone benefits.”
MCR mentors work with children on a one to one basis and give them the benefit of their life experience.
The idea is to steer vulnerable children into careers or further education which may have been blocked to them by their personal circumstances.
At its heart MCR Pathways helps young people individually to find their own path.
The Glasgow-based organisation runs its mentoring programme called Young Glasgow Talent (YGT). It’s where volunteer mentors meet with a young person for one hour every week at their school.
The aim is to keep young people engaged in education instead of leaving school without a plan.
Can you help a young person realise their full potential and be defined by their talent not their circumstances or postcode?
The Herald and Evening Times are supporting the Young Glasgow Talent campaign by MCR Pathways to recruit mentors and organisations for its schools based mentoring and talent taster programme.
More disadvantaged young Glaswegians are signing up for mentors to help them overcome barriers and inequality to be all they can be.
One hour a week and a willingness to put a young person first are all you need. You'll make and experience a life-changing difference in helping a young person to find, grow and use their talents.
MCR Pathways will provide all the training and support you need.
For more information or to register, please go to www.youngglasgowtalent.org, email info@mcrpathways.org or call us on 0141 221 6642.
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