Changing lives mentoring young people | MCR Pathways
At our recent Mole Valley Chamber business breakfast, we were delighted to welcome Liz Grace from MCR Pathways. This award-winning national charity is dedicated to transforming the lives of vulnerable young people through mentoring young people, giving them the guidance, confidence and support they need to thrive.
Liz explained that MCR Pathways – standing for Motivation, Commitment and Resilience – has one clear mission: to ensure every young person, whatever their circumstances, has someone consistent to turn to. The charity does this through one-to-one mentoring young people in schools, offering support to those facing challenges such as care experience, family hardship, bereavement or instability at home.
The programme is simple yet powerful. Mentors give just one hour a week to meet with a young person in school, building a relationship based on trust, encouragement and belief. Liz highlighted how this connection can spark confidence, resilience and ambition, helping a young person to see their future in a new light.
Founded in Glasgow in 2007, MCR Pathways has grown across Scotland and, since 2021, expanded into England. Today it supports young people in Hertfordshire, Surrey, West London and the North East – with a vision to reach every corner of the country. Locally, around 200 mentors in Surrey are already providing thousands of hours of support.
Importantly, the benefits are felt not just by the young people, but also by mentors themselves and the organisations they work for. Volunteers often report improved wellbeing, a sense of purpose, and the development of new skills such as listening, empathy and leadership. For businesses, supporting mentoring is more than a good deed – it strengthens employee engagement and satisfaction. As Liz put it, mentoring is “energy gained, not time lost.”
Mentoring sessions aren’t formal interviews or classroom lessons. They can be as relaxed as playing a game of chess, walking round the school grounds, or sharing a hobby. The key is building trust in a way that works for each young person.
Liz closed by sharing the impact: more than 15,000 young people have already been supported across the UK. The data shows improved attendance, academic performance, confidence and wellbeing for those with a mentor compared to those without. In her words, “it’s quite staggering what just one hour a week can do.”
As a Chamber, we are proud to connect our business community support with organisations like MCR Pathways, who are making a profound difference in the lives of young people – and offering local employers a unique way to invest in both community and future talent.
If you’d like to learn more about mentoring young people or explore how you, your colleagues or your business could get involved, visit www.mcrpathways.org.
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