Mentoring scheme set to launch at Culloden and Nairn Academy after £10k funding boost
A mentoring programme supporting care-experienced and disadvantaged young people is set to launch in two schools in Inverness and Nairn.
After being awarded £10,000 from the new community funding pool created by Haventus supporting initiatives in the area surrounding Ardersier Port, national charity MCR Pathways is set to bring its scheme to Culloden and Nairn Academy for the next three years.
The grant will support the employment of pathways coordinators, who work with young people from Primary 7 to ease their transition into S1 and S2 and then facilitate one-to-one mentoring relationships and organise Talent Taster visits, helping young people explore potential career paths.
They also provide guidance to mentors to ensure impactful weekly sessions. For S4 and beyond, Coordinators help young people prepare for their futures, ensuring applications for college, university, jobs and personal funding are completed on time.
Caroline, head of schools in the North said: “MCR Pathways is absolutely thrilled to receive a grant from the Haventus Fund and be powered up to support more Highland young people on their journey to success.
“This generous contribution allows us to work in partnership with the teams of dedicated staff at Nairn and Culloden Academies and bring our transformative mentoring programme to young people in the communities they serve.
“MCR Pathways highly values every chance to work in partnership with businesses and organisations in each local area to ensure every young person has someone to help them find their right path.
“The opportunity to work with the Haventus Fund, to welcome them into the MCR family of supporters, and to extend our Highland offer to bring more and lasting support and opportunities to local young people has brought such excitement to our team. We can't wait to get started.”
This builds on the success of the programme in Highland schools last year, where 289 young people were supported through more than 2,408 mentor meetings and 630 group work sessions.
MCR Pathways was one of 12 beneficiaries of the first £50,000 of the Haventus Ardersier Port Community Benefit Fund being awarded.
The fund opened for applications in August and is managed by Foundation Scotland.
Each year the fund will make available £100,000 to support local initiatives - for the next ten years, focusing on areas such as education, employment and community development.
