Call for more mentors across Highland to make a difference
With a New Year, there's a new call for volunteers to help shape the lives of young people
It is hoped across the Highlands that more people can come forward to provide advice and help as mentors.
Charity MCR Pathways aims to see that a young person's future should be determined by their talents, not their circumstances.
However, now more volunteer mentors are sought to get involved and help reach young people in Highland, including those who are care-experienced or otherwise identified by the school as vulnerable, in order to build aspirations and fulfill their potential.
MCR Pathways are currently looking for mentors in the following areas: Inverness, Alness, Dingwall, Wick, Lochaber, and Invergordon.
Mentors spend an hour each week listening to and encouraging a young person in school and the relationship they develop makes all the difference. Not every young person has a trusted adult around them to turn to but MCR Pathways is on a mission to change this.
Being a mentor is a "humbling experience"
Andrew from Inverness Royal Academy mentors through MCR Pathways and feels the scheme can make a huge difference.
He said: "It's easy to think that this is an inner-city problem, that's where we've got struggling young people and it's not, it's across the Highlands.
"There are young people in desperate need for an adult, for somebody that they can trust, that they can go to with their issues.
"It has been an incredibly humbling experience, to hear about my young person's background, what they have been through.
"To hear about the frankly shocking things they've had to overcome in their past, how they are still incredibly resilient and incredibly positive.
"They match you with somebody who has got common interests, it enables you to build up a relationship with that young person.
"The experience that I've got is relevant, I can be that sounding board that my young person specifically needs."
MCR mentoring is making an impact on educational outcomes for Scotland’s young people, helping them towards positive post-school destinations such as college, university or employment.
Across Scotland, there are approximately 7,500 young people waiting to be mentored and the charity hopes by sharing your time you can make a real difference - with as little as an hour a week to have a lifetime of an impact.
Further information on the MCR Pathways programme is here but full training and ongoing support is provided with no qualifications required.