Argyll & Bute Impact Report 24-25 (Committee)pdf
Argyll and Bute Council · 4 June 2026
Back to Community Services Committee — 4 June 2026 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute 24-25 Impact Report Scottish Charity Number SC045816 Appendix 1
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Nicola Smith Programme Manager nicola.smith@mcrpathways.org Argyll and Bute Update This report sets out the success of the partnership between MCR Pathways and Argyll and Bute Council. It shows engagement of over 150 volunteers through their contribution as Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentors to young people in schools across Argyll & Bute. It also celebrates the success of young people achieving academically or moving on to a positive destination post-school. It is essential that young people, especially those that are Care Experienced, can access the best life chances in terms of their academic achievement, well-being, education and career progression. We can only do that in partnership with schools, local authorities and the many partner organisations that provide volunteer mentors. As you read through this report I hope amongst the numbers and the stats that you also see the relationships. Each unique mentor relationship can spark ideas, provide guidance and offer a place of safety for a young person facing instability. Adding to the mentor - mentee relationship, the support of Pathways Coordinators and the relationships they form with both mentors and young people allow us to ensure that a young person is directed to the correct service that will support them. MCR Pathways provides dedicated support to coordinators, schools and the local authority to ensure overall programme success. Working closely with the local authority, each school and partnering with Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) has helped to make sure that young people get the support they require for their next steps. “The best thing about mentoring a young person for me is knowing that I can make a difference and encourage them to be anything and everything they want to be. Every time my mentee smiles, it brings me such joy knowing that I have been a part of the small but significant changes.” Mentor, Dunoon Grammar School Collaborative power is essential in realising our mission of ensuring every young person who needs one can access a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor. Our partnership is playing a massive role in ensuring every young person across Scotland has someone to find their path to brighter futures. Find out more about our new three-year strategy
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Total Young People Supported 238 young people were supported on the MCR Pathways Programme across the 4 participating schools in Argyll and Bute last academic year. Number of Volunteer Hours Volunteers mentors gave 2528 volunteer hours to the programme across Argyll and Bute as they mentored young people. Mentored Young People 153 Young People met a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor for an hour each week. An additional 23 young people were engaged to prepare for mentoring. Participation Increase Since last academic year, the number of participating mentored young people has increased by 91% (from 80 mentored YP in 23/24 to 153 mentored YP 24/25) 87% Group Work 62 young people in S1 and S2 participated in weekly group work sessions to help enhance motivation, commitment and resilence. Headlines Argyll and Bute 238 2528 153 62 91% Academic Year 2024/25
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The Power of a Trusted Adult A Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor doesn’t just show up, they stand proudly in a young person’s corner. Having a consistent adult in your life can be truly transformational. For a young person, knowing that someone is present, listens, believes in their potential, and is willing to go the extra mile can make all the difference. That support helps young people overcome challenges, build confidence, and start to reimagine what their future could look like. The impact of a trusted adult reaches far beyond weekly mentoring meetings in schools across Argyll and Bute, from Rothesay to Helensburgh. Through trust, encouragement, shared experience, and the simple act of showing up consistently, mentors can inspire and nurture confidence, choices, and pathways to success throughout a lifetime. Until everyone has someone. MCR Pathways is committed to ensuring every young person who needs one has a Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentor to help guide them on a path to a brighter future. “Knowing that I'm making an impact on her life, even if it's just a little, is very fulfilling to know that I'm able to help and support a young person.“ Mentor, Hermitage Academy “Their confidence has grown and they now do more things independently. I’ve seen my mentee develop into a confident young man.” Mentor, Dunoon Grammar School
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Model of Delivery School: As of November 2025, MCR Pathways’ programme is now delivered in nine secondary schools across Argyll and Bute. Our strong partnership with the Local Authority Education Team enables collaborative working and partnership to meet the needs of the young people across Argyll and Bute. This approach aligns with The Promise Scotland, enabling us to contribute to improving educational outcomes for Care Experienced young people across Argyll and Bute. Community: We work closely with a range of organisations with shared values to provide ways for young people to explore their future pathways, including with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). This ensures that our work compliments one another and we are able to support young people by signposting them to the correct support to gain insight and pursue aspiration. Partners: Partnerships are at the heart of how we support young people. We recruit mentors from a huge range of organisations. In Argyll and Bute some of our corporate parents such as Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are particularly supportive, and organisations such as Fyne Homes and UHI have consistently encouraged staff to mentor. Argyll and Bute Council have also been a huge champion of mentoring, promoting opportunities to staff across the council, leading to 13 staff actively mentoring. We continue to develop further partnerships and anyone interested in providing mentors can contact our West Partnerships Manager Laura Campbell at: laura.campbell@mcrpathways.org Pathways Coordinator Pathways Coordinators are an integral part of MCR Pathways’ programme. In Argyll and Bute, each school has a dedicated Pathways Coordinator, who work closely with the young people, building strong relationships and preparing them for mentoring through group work or one-to-one interactions. They then carefully choose a match for the young person with a trusted adult that shares interests, experiences or career aspirations. Once matched, they help to nurture and support the relationship and continue to be a consistent support to young people, helping in periods of challenge, emergency or by signposting young people to additional support needed. In Argyll & Bute schools have a mixture of a full-time, part-time or multi-site coordinator to best suit each school‘s context and need.
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Voices of Success: Young People Young People tell us that MCR Pathways mentoring builds their personal stability and confidence that they need to move forward with their futures. The change is most profoundly reflected in their own words. “My mentor is just the best person that I’ve had, that I can have free time and have fun with, without feeling like I am under pressure. My mentor has helped me believe in myself more, when when I’m being bullied he has helped me to see that I can ignore it. It helps have someone to talk these things through with.” Young Person, Hermitage Academy Relationships: Role Models: Confidence: Aspirations: Goal Setting: 97% 100% 92% 93% 92% ‘Over time we have built a lot of trust.’ ‘My mentor is a good role model.’ ‘Having a mentor has helped me believe in myself more.’ ‘My mentor has helped me understand what I could achieve.’ ‘My mentor has supported me to identify my goals.’ Destinations: 95% ‘My mentor has supported me to leave school to my chosen destination’
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Voices of Commitment: Mentors The dedication of volunteer mentors, providing consistent, personal relationships, is what drives this life-changing impact. The benefits of this commitment are mutually fulfilling, as their words demonstrate. Empathy and Understanding: 75% of mentors have gained a greater understanding of the challenges young people face today Development of Skills: 75% of mentors have developed their active listening skills further since mentoring a young person. Personal Fulfilment: 91% of mentors have found personal fulfilment in helping others through mentoring “It's very rewarding and refreshing and is a positive part of my week. It has helped me manage work related stress. Mentoring gives me a different focus for an hour a week. I always feel better after the session.” Mentor, Hermitage Academy Our volunteer mentors come from a range of backgrounds. We match based on shared experience, shared career goals or shared interests. We are constantly seeking to find more mentors to enable us to reach greater numbers of young people in the region. Currently 13 Argyll and Bute Council employees already mentor with us, with a further 4 employees registered and ready to match. We greatly appreciate the council’s support and commitment to encouraging staff to get involved. We look forward to continuing to work together to promote opportunities and to encourage staff and local community members to register to mentor. Verifiable Impact: 77% of mentors say mentoring helps young people to understand their individual talents & strengths
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Realising Potential: Attainment and Well Being Outcomes 97% Wellbeing Mentoring provides a platform for young people to build resilience and self belief. 97% of young people report that their mentor empowers them to achieve their personal best. Mentoring has a positive effect on young people’s wellbeing. Attainment S5 Young people continue to demonstrate high levels of academic ambition. 57% of Group 1 (Care Experienced) and 83% of Group 2 (facing instability) young people in S5 on the programme achieved a level 5 or above. Attainment Leavers 54% of Group 1 (Care Experienced) and 82% of Group 2 (facing instability) young people that left school left having achieved at level 5 or above. 71% 86% MCR Positive Destination 71% of Group 1 (Care Experienced) young people and 86% of Group 2 (facing instability) young people went on to College, University, Apprenticeship or Employment (Oct 2025) Scottish Govt. Positive Destination 86% of Group 1 (Care Experienced) young people and 93% of Group 2 (facing instability) young people went on to a Scottish Government positive destination (Oct 2025) Group 1 Group 2 86% 93% Group 1 Group 2 my mentor encourages me to be the best version of myself 57% 83% Group 1 Group 2 54% 82% Group 1 Group 2
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Leavers Data Level 6+ Level 5+ Level 4+ Level 3+ Group 1 Mentored 15.4% 53.8% 100% 100% Group 2 Mentored 9.1% 81.8% 100% 100% National Care Experienced 15.8% 45.6% 76.7% 87.5% National All Students 57.4% 83.5% 95.2% 97.6% Realising Potential: Attainment Outcomes A key performance indicator (KPI) for MCR Pathways is ensuring that young people have access to the opportunities required to drive achievement and unlock potential. Young people who are Care Experienced, or those experiencing unique challenges in their lives can often face significant barriers to academic success. MCR Pathways Coordinators and Trusted Adult Volunteer Mentors work alongside these young people to help them realise their potential. Attainment S5 and Leavers S5 Data Level 6+ Level 5+ Level 4+ Level 3+ Group 1 Mentored 14.3% 57.1% 100% 100% Group 2 Mentored 41.7% 83.3% 100% 100% *This comparative data is for academic year 23/24 The table below outlines the attainment data (achieving at least one qualification at each level) for mentored young people, with 10 or more mentor meetings for the previous academic year. Please note, the figures for Level 5 and 6 are reflective of the fact that most mentored young people left school in 4 year (46%) or 5 year (33%), and as such mainly achieved Level 4.th th
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Group 1 Mentored Group 2 Mentored National Care Experience* National Universal* October 2025 Initial Destination MCR Positive Destination 71% (10/14) 86% (12/14) - - Scottish Gov. Positive Destination 86% (12/14) 93% (13/14) - - February 2026 Sustained Destination MCR Positive Destination 71% (10/14) 71% (10/14) 72% (1483/2071) 90% (50430/558 47) Scottish Gov. Positive Destination 86% (12/14) 79% (11/14) 85% (1760/2071) 96% (53446/558 47) Our vision is for every young person on the MCR Pathways programme to progress to a positive destination upon leaving school. Pathways Coordinators continually monitor all young people throughout their time engaging with the programme. Pathways Coordinators also work closely with partners in Skills Development Scotland (SDS) and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) to offer additional support and opportunities, and to ensure young people are supported as they transition from school to whatever their next step is on a path to sustainable positive futures. Mentors are also empowered to explore future options with their mentees. Through collaborative training with Skills Development Scotland, colleges and apprenticeship providers, MCR Pathways ensures that mentors receive training and are provided regular opportunities to update their knowledge to guide their young person through the various routes available to them. Positive Destinations Below is the data for MCR Pathways positive destinations (university, college, apprenticeship or employment) and Scottish Government positive destinations which includes training, volunteering and personal skills development, for young people mentored through the MCR programme. The destination figures for Group 2 highlight the challenges young people often face transitioning from school to their next step and in sustaining their destination when mentoring ends. We firmly believe in the power of mentoring following the young person wherever they are, and would be keen to explore the opportunity of expanding and continuing mentoring to support sustained destinations. *This comparative data is for academic year 23/24 Securing Future Pathways: Positive Destinations
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The Power of Mentoring Shannon was Care Experienced and demonstrated considerable resilience while navigating significant life experiences, including bereavement. These personal challenges were having an understandable impact on Shannon’s educational engagement and outcomes, and she was unsure of her future steps and direction. Shannon initially found it difficult to stay connected with her education, and in turn faced periods where her confidence and self belief fluctuated, leading her to consider leaving school before she could secure the qualifications she was capable of. It was felt that with the right support, Shannon was well placed to build on her strengths, develop her confidence, and move forward toward positive and meaningful outcomes. The following stories highlight the power of a young person having a trusted adult in their corner, to help them discover their potential and to build their motivation, confidence and resilence. Please note all names have been anonymised and stock imagery has been used to protect identities. Shannon and Clare “Thank you so much for everything. You have helped me achieve so much and I don’t know where I would be without you. You have helped me get into college and find the path to what job I want to do… I’m so glad I chose to get a mentor!” Shannon, in a letter to her mentor, Clare, Dunoon Grammar School Shannon had aspirations of becoming a hairdresser, but due to low confidence a little encouragement was needed to help her to believe in her potential and explore this potential path. Shannon was matched with her mentor, Clare, a hairdresser and business owner, who could support and guide her apsiration. Beyond this Clare was upbeat, had various skills and life experiences to share, and brought a nurturing approach while also being firm but fair. Clare could offer positivity and encouragement to enhance Shannon’s low self esteem and help her to see what she was capable of achieving. Clare and Shannon’s relationship very quickly became a source of stability and positivity for Shannon. They shared plenty of laughter and fun moments (including shaving a staff member’s hair for a school fundraiser!) but their relationship also extended beyond the jokes. Slowly but surely, Clare encouraged Shannon to think about her future, set goals and start to believe in herself.
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The pair had many discussions about school work and how Shannon could make progress in her subjects to pursue her chosen pathway of studying hairdressing at college. This journey wasn’t always smooth due to the unique challenges Shannon was facing, but Clare demonstrated patience and consistency, often staying longer than the usual hour, and always ending meetings positively to help boost Shannon’s mindset. Before mentoring, Shannon was reluctant to attend many of her classes and this impacted on her school work and progress. With support and guidance from Clare, Shannon showed more willingness to attend classes, and despite falling behind and at times still not wanting to be there, Shannon’s persistence paid off and she gained her National 4 and 5 qualifications - which she never before believed she would achieve! Thanks to Clare’s support, Shannon gradually re-engaged in her education. She worked hard to gain her qualifications and started to see a future for herself beyond the classroom. Shannon left school feeling much more confident about her future and ready to pursue her dream of studying at college to become a hairdresser - a path she once thought was out of reach. Through their mentoring relationship, Clare offered consistency and encouragement, and helped Shannon to see her potential and to rediscover her confidence. “Shannon took herself to the local college and enrolled in the course she wants to do, was accepted and starts in August. She would not have done that when we started the sessions. I’m so proud of her! Clare, Mentor Dunoon Grammar School
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When Connor was first identified for mentoring, he came across as a very polite and respectful young boy. While his overall attendance at school was good, he was continuing to develop his punctuality and was working towards making more positive behaviour choices both in and out of school, particularly when with his peers. His guidance teacher was determined to do more to support Connor to engage more fully in school and realise his potential. When MCR Pathways Coordinator, Mhairi, started working with Connor, his mindset was that he wanted to leave school as soon as he could. When Mhairi introduced the programme to Connor he was very eager to take part and he agreed that he could really benefit from having someone neutral to talk to outside of his direct circle. Connor attended Army Cadets and was either interested in joining the Armed Forces when he left school or becoming a Mechanic. When matching Connor, Mhairi looked for a male role model able to give him the confidence to make more positive choices, and ideally someone with experience connected to his preferred career paths. Mhairi matched Connor with Jake, who hadn’t been very academic in school but went on to become a Mechanic before joining the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, as well as having been through the selection process to join the Army himself - a perfect match! When they started meeting Connor and Jake hit it off immediately thanks to their shared similar interests. Over time they built a very positive relationship, and went on to meet nearly 50 times before Connor left school. It was clear to see that Connor looked forward to meeting Jake each week and looked up to him as a positive role model, even telling Mhairi on numerous occasions that it was easier coming into school on the days he knew he’d be seeing Jake. Each week it was great to see the pair engage with each other, laughing, joking and deciding who is bringing in the biscuits the following week for their hot chocolates! As their relationship developed, Jake helped Connor to build his confidence, to overcome self doubt about his academic ability and to see that everyone’s career path looks a bit different. Jake supported Connor to look at the required qualifications to pursue mechanics, and with Mhairi and Jake’s support Connor secured a work placement at a local garage every week. Over time, Connor’s attitude and outlook towards his education and future pathway became much more positive. Mentoring helped Connor to decide to stay on at school to achieve the qualifications needed for his chosen career path. Connor considered the option of going to university to then join the Army as an Officer - a massive shift from wanting to leave school at the first opportunity! Following his work placement at the local garage, Connor was offered a mechanics apprenticeship starting in September 2025, and the garage also offered to put Connor through his driving lessons. Connor completed his final year at school to ensure he achieved his qualifications, showing just how much his attitude to school changed since he began mentoring. Connor also signed up to the local college to join a night class to enable him to gain his National 5 Maths qualification, which he managed through saving from his placement and taking on additional shifts. Connor is now successfully completing his mechanics apprenticeship and studying at West College Scotland. Through the power of mentoring Connor gained more confidence in himself, has matured and now has the self belief that he can do whatever he sets his mind to. He is focused, clear on his goals and knows how to achieve them. Connor and Jake “I don't know what you’re doing, but it’s working and I want to thank you all for helping Connor.” Connor’s mother to Pathways Coordinator Mhairi Please note this story was first shared in 23/24 and has been updated as the young person has now left school to a positive destination
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Sarah was referred to the programm as she was Care Experienced, living with gran and showing considerable resilience in navigating a range of family challenges. Sarah’s guidance teacher felt she would benefit from having someone to talk to, who could offer extra support in school as her senior years approached. MCR Pathways Coordinator Emma could see Sarah appeared to be still finding her place within the school environment, as she navigated her final years and the challenges around her. Despite this, she showed openness to support and had the potential to become more engaged with the right guidance and encouragement to help find a path to a positive post-school destination. When Emma first approached Sarah about mentoring, she was hesitant and after thinking about it she told Emma she felt she didn’t need a mentor. Emma reassured Sarah it was her decision, took things at her pace and continued to check in with her over the next year. When Sarah’s friend started mentoring, Emma encouraged Sarah to revisit the idea of a mentor, and to Emma’s delight Sarah agreed she’d give it a try. Sarah opened up to Emma, sharing that she wanted to leave school that summer but didn’t know what to do or how to apply to college. Emma immediately thought of mentor Tamsin, who worked at the local University of Highlands and Islands (UHI) campus and had a lot of experience offering pastoral support to students. Emma thought this would be the perfect match to help Sarah explore her options and prepare for leaving school. Sarah and Tamsin shared various common interests and quickly hit it off as they got to know each other. Soon Sarah was waiting at the school entrance for Tamsin to arrive, without needing reminders from Emma. As mentoring continued, Sarah shared some uncertainties about the best use of their time in mentoring sessions. Emma suggested trying to have more of a focus to their mentoring sessions by working through employability and meta skills resources. Sarah agreed this would help her think about her next steps, and give them a joint focus and goal to work towards. Moving forward Sarah and Tamsin split their time in mentoring sessions, spending the first half catching up before working through the resources and discussing Sarah’s skills and potential future plans. Following their discussions, Sarah started to consider college as a next step and was interested in applying for the beauty course at the local UHI campus. With advice from Tamsin and support from her guidance teacher Sarah completed the application, and within just a few days Sarah came bouncing into Emma’s office to tell her she had received an unconditional offer - she was over the moon and so proud of herself! Sarah and Tamsin “Since mentoring Sarah knows she can come and chat whenever she needs to. It was clear to see her unconditional college offer really boosted her confidence, and she can now see what her future beyond school looks like. I’m so proud of her!” Emma, Pathways Coordinator Sarah had shared with Tamsin that she was nervous about what college would be like and worried about the change in environment from school. Tamsin offered to organise a visit to the college to meet the lecturer, find out more about the course and see the campus. Emma accompanied Sarah to visit the college, where she had the opportunity to meet staff, learn more about the course, and get a tour of the college. Following the visit Emma observed Sarah appeared more at ease about her next steps, and Sarah shared that she was now looking forward to college. Sarah opened up that she had been feeling the pressure as she would be the first person in her family to go to college, and she was worried she’d be judged. Emma reassured Sarah that she should be proud of herself and her achievement of going to college. Before mentoring, Sarah was guarded and hesitant to accept extra support. Through the programme Sarah built positive relationships with both Emma and Tamsin, found a space where she could open up and was supported to explore her potential and take her next steps beyond school.
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“I was amazed at how confident the students were, they all had their goals and focused career path which was excellent.” MCR Pathways Mentor DYW Mock Interview Event In June 2025, DYW and MCR Pathways staff teamed up to deliver a Mock Interview Skills event for students on the programme and those soon leaving school. With 16 volunteer interviewers from local businesses and MCR Pathways mentors, nearly 35 young people participated in the event. Young people were taken through two mock interviews, encouraging them to reflect on their skills and experiences, and were given feedback and tips for future interviews. The students were all a credit to the school and the event was enjoyed by all, with 100% of interviewers keen to participate again in future. This is a great example of the strong partnership between DYW and MCR Pathways in action, and offers a successful blueprint which can be implemented in schools across Argyll & Bute. In March 2025, we welcomed MSPs Jackie Bailie and Paul O'Kane to Hermitage Academy to learn more about MCR Pathways and the success of the programme at the school. From chatting with young people about their group work experiences (and their wish to see group work continue after S2!) to meeting mentored young people, volunteer mentors and SDS and DYW coordinators, it was an inspiring morning showcasing the power of mentoring. Thank you to Pathways Coordinator Laura Cavana and Hermitage Academy for hosting the visit, to the MCR Policy & Public Affairs team for organising and to the young people who took part. MSP Visit to Hermitage Academy Stuart*, a mentored young person at Oban High School, was successful in his interview for a place on DYW’s “A Day in Industry” work placement programme. Stuart chose a variety of placement options that he was interested in, and was selected for a day visit to Scottish Sea Farms. Participating in a placement like this was a big leap out of Stuart’s comfort zone, and his Pathways Coordinator Emma accompanied Stuart for the day for extra support. During the visit Stuart learned about different routes to work in the industry and the range of roles available, as well as gaining some hands-on experience. Stuart thoroughly enjoyed the experience and afterwards said he would love to do it again! “A Day in Industry” Placement Spotlight on Success
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Kieron* and Raymond* were first matched in March 2025. The pair quickly connected and enjoyed getting to know each other while playing a different game each week. From early on, Kieron was open about how he wanted to keep out of trouble and how he’d like to change some of his behaviours. As the trust built, Keiron shared more about his family life and worries, and they also started discussing college options and what Kieron would need to do to pursue his interest in a possible career in welding. Each week Kieron arrived early to meet Raymond at the door, and one session after lunch Kieron took Raymond through the busy dining hall and proudly introduced him to his friends and staff. Kieron shared that he felt his wellbeing had Building Trust, Building Futures Throughout academic year 2024/25, Pathways Coordinators across all schools hosted various Coffee Conversations. These events encouraged mentors both new and old to come together, share their experiences of mentoring, and to learn from and support one another. In June we held celebration events in Dunoon, Helensburgh and Oban to recognise and thank our wonderful mentor communities for all the commitment, time and care they offer to young people through mentoring. As Oban High school link Lynsey shared, MCR mentors are “planting seeds for trees that will grow in the future”, and we recognise and hugely appreciate all that our mentors do for young people across Argyll & Bute. Appreciating & Celebrating Mentors Last year, we continued to build strong collaborative partnerships with Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). MCR Pathways coordinators, DYW coordinators and SDS careers advisors continue to work closely across all schools to signpost and support young people to access career development opportunities. During Scottish Careers Week in November 2024, MCR Pathways, DYW and SDS teams worked in partnership to deliver a tailored careers fayre for young people and mentors at Oban High School and a careers focused mentor event at Hermitage Academy. We look forward to continuing to work closely together to maximise opportunities and support for mentors and young people. Collaborative Partnerships improved since they started meeting, and that he’d been using some of the techniques they’d discussed to be kind to himself when things didn’t go to plan. It was clear to see Kieron was finding their mentoring sessions useful and enjoyable, and the pair were looking forward to continuing their relationship following the summer break. “The minute my young person saw me she said ‘I have so much to tell you!’, and it felt like she was genuinely excited to see me.” MCR Pathways Mentor
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“My young person appears to be more confident and now has a more positive outlook. The best aspect of mentoring is seeing them turn up each week wanting to engage.” MCR Pathways Mentor “My mentee is certainly more chatty and confident. When I’m there they always have a smile and we have good, free flowing conversations. It’s nice to know they have someone there and that we can share experiences. As a mentor I can be a positive person for my mentee and give back to young people.” MCR Pathways Mentor “I really benefit from having a mentor in my life.” Mentored Young Person “She makes my day a lot better, by just being there and listening to me and making me laugh.” Mentored Young Person “The best thing about mentoring is seeing my young person grow and develop, especially where they have challenges in their personal or school life. Bringing an adult, experienced perspective while respecting theirs is just brilliant. I’ve learned a lot through it myself and have just loved it!” MCR Pathways Mentor Mentor and Young People Voices
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This current academic year (2025/26) celebrates the third year of MCR Pathways programme delivery across Argyll & Bute. Building on the established success within our initial four schools, this year has marked an exciting new chapter as we welcomed Campbeltown Grammar, Lochgilphead Joint Campus, Tarbert Academy, Islay High School, and Tobermory High School to the MCR Pathways programme. In these new schools, the programme has been well received by school leadership, young people and the local communities. In Campbeltown, Lochgilphead and Tarbert, the programme is currently gaining momentum with several successful matches, while on Islay we are already seeing the positive impact and potential of new mentoring relationships. In Tobermory, the Pathways Coordinator has been preparing young people for mentoring and initial matches are expected following the Easter break. Young People Currently Supported Academic Year 2025/26 Across all participating schools in Argyll & Bute the programme is working to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, ensuring that every young person - regardless of their geography or start in life - has a champion in their corner to help them find their way.
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Group Work Matched & Meeting Preparing for Mentoring Total Supported Mentoring Target Dunoon Grammar 17* 51 2 70 45 Hermitage Academy 30 40 3 73 45 Oban High School 11 39 7 57 45 Rothesay Academy 19* 24 2 42 20 Campbeltown Grammar - 3 1 4 8 Lochgilphead High School - 7 3 10 8 Tarbert Academy - 6 - 6 8 Islay High School - 3 4 7 10 Tobermory High School - - 10 10 10 Total 77 173 32 273 199 Young People Currently Supported Current programme engagement (April 2026) *Please note, some S2 YP both participated in GW and have since been matched with a mentor, so have been removed from the Total to avoid double counting. These YP are reflected in both the GW and Meeting columns to show total participation figures for each aspect of the programme. Further S2 YP participating in GW will be matched following the Easter break. (S2 YP who participated in GW and have been matched = Dunoon 6 & Rothesay 3)
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MCR Pathways Mitchell Library Berkeley Street Glasgow G3 7DN mcrpathways.org Scotland: 0141 221 0200 England: 0330 133 4613 MCR Pathways is a SCIO regulated by OSCR, Scottish Charity Number SC045816 facebook.com/mcrpathways/ instagram.com/mcrpathways/ linkedin.com/company/mcr-pathways/ youtube.com/c/MCRPathways bsky.app/profile/mcrpathways.bsky.social For privacy, throughout this publication, some names and personal details have been changed. Photos are for visual context only and do not show the people whose stories are shared.