Wheatley hits halfway point of mentoring target

Sharon McIntyre, chief executive of MCR Pathways, and Lynne Michell, director of Wheatley Foundation, sign the new protocol
Wheatley Group is now halfway towards its target of recruiting 50 volunteers to support school-based mentoring programme, MCR Pathways.
The group pledged earlier this year to sign up 50 staff to act as volunteer mentors for care-experienced young people.
It has now recruited 25 staff who commit to an hour a week to help boost young people’s confidence and academic performance in schools across the central belt.
Wheatley is also guaranteeing work experience and training in housing, care, legal and digital for young people as part of their support for the organisation.
Sharon McIntyre, MCR Pathways chief executive, said: “Wheatley has been a real champion of our work to help young people reach their full potential.
“Care-experienced young people often have fewer life chances than their peers and it’s fantastic so many Wheatley staff have committed to helping overcome those barriers.

(from left) Wheatley mentor Brian Haddow; Sharon McIntyre, chief executive of MCR Pathways; Laura Crumlish and Lynne Mitchell of Wheatley Foundation; Holly Dillon; City Building mentor Louise Allan; Mhairi Taggart of MCR Pathways; and Wheatley mentor Kevin Smith
“This is another example of the huge contribution Wheatley makes in its communities and young people we work with across Scotland are grateful for that support.”
Laura Pluck, Wheatley’s group director of communities, added: “We always want to help increase opportunities for young people and working with MCR Pathways is a great way of doing that.
“Mentoring helps build confidence and can improve school performance too. Mentors tell me how satisfying it is to make a positive difference to a young person’s life.
“I’d encourage as many people as possible to sign up as mentors for MCR Pathways and help support young people.”
MCR Pathways operates in 30 schools in Glasgow and another 29 in East Dunbartonshire, Inverclyde and South Lanarkshire.