A mentoring charity is encouraging more people across Renfrewshire to volunteer as trusted adult mentors for young people as Volunteers’ Week 2026 gets underway.
MCR Pathways, which operates in schools, colleges and communities across Scotland, says volunteer mentors provided more than 84,000 hours of support to 5,930 young people last year.
The charity connects volunteer mentors with young people who may be facing challenges or barriers, helping them build confidence, self-belief and aspirations for the future.
One young person benefiting from the programme is Sonny, who spoke about the impact his mentor, Iain, has had on his life.
Sonny said: “Iain is my mentor, he’s fantastic, and I wouldn’t change him for the world.
“Mentoring means having someone you can talk to about anything on your mind. Before I met Iain, I didn’t really talk about my feelings or what was happening in my life. My mindset has eased now.”
He added: “Iain has helped me to visualise my future. I want to go to university to become a paramedic. He’s helped me with revision, homework and tasks I’ve got at school. It’s helped a lot.”
According to MCR Pathways, its latest survey found 99 per cent of young people said their mentor was a great role model, while 96 per cent said mentoring improved their confidence and 95 per cent said it helped them set goals.
Iain said being open-minded and supportive was key to helping young people.
He said: “Young people often have the answer and just need a little guidance to help bring it out themselves.”
The charity says mentoring also benefits volunteers, with 94 per cent describing the experience as positive and 92 per cent reporting personal fulfilment from helping others.
Iain added: “If I were to say anything to someone thinking about becoming a mentor with MCR Pathways, I would 100% say do it. An hour a week is not a huge commitment, and what you get from it outweighs that commitment 100-fold. It’s amazing.”
Sharon McIntyre, chief executive of MCR Pathways, said volunteers play a vital role in helping young people navigate challenges and move towards brighter futures.
Volunteer mentors must be aged 21 or over. No specific qualifications are required, and full training and ongoing support are provided.
For more information about becoming a mentor, visit the MCR Pathways website, here: www.mcrpathways.org.
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