Mentoring Programme Expands in Ealing Borough
MCR Pathways aims to support disadvantaged youth
Both mentors and mentees report a positive experience
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July 29, 2025
MCR Pathways, an award-winning charity dedicated to supporting care-experienced and disadvantaged young people, officially launched its school-based mentoring programme in the London Borough of Ealing in September 2024. Following three years of development in Hertfordshire and Surrey, the charity began its work in Ealing by partnering with a school in Hanwell and the borough’s Care-Experienced team to support young people facing instability, including care leavers and young carers.
This September, the programme is expanding to Ark Acton Academy, a significant step in its mission to provide consistent, early support to those disproportionately affected by school absence and lower educational attainment. MCR Pathways mentors offer just one hour a week during the school day to listen, encourage, and be a steady presence for a young person who needs it most.
An independent evaluation of the programme’s work in Scotland revealed that 83% of mentored young people progressed to college, university or employment after school, compared to 62% of those without a mentor. Additionally, 72% of mentored students stayed on at school, compared to just 50% of their non-mentored peers.
One mentor reflected on the experience, “Being a mentor isn't just about listening and cheerleading the mentee; the experience has also gotten me to reflect about myself, to think about my purpose in life, and what else I could do better as mother, wife and member of society.”
A mentee shared, “Before having my mentor I had every intention of leaving school as soon as I could. My mentor is the first person that’s made me feel smart and that I could go to college. I’ve always been told and believed I’m ‘the bad girl.’ My mentor changed that and made me believe in myself.”
Founded in Glasgow in 2007, MCR Pathways began as a grassroots initiative in St Andrew’s Secondary School in the East End of the city. Over five years, the programme was refined and expanded, demonstrating a transformative impact on young people’s confidence, engagement with school, and long-term outcomes. Today, MCR Pathways operates in over 120 schools across Scotland and England, with a vision that every care-experienced or disadvantaged young person should have the same educational outcomes, career opportunities, and life chances as their peers.
The charity’s work is funded through a blend of public and philanthropic support, including backing from the Scottish Government and the Tom Hunter Foundation. In England, local authorities and charitable partners have played a key role in enabling expansion. Each partner school has a dedicated MCR Pathways Programme Coordinator who facilitates mentoring relationships and supports both mentors and mentees throughout their journey.
As the new school year approaches, MCR Pathways is actively seeking more volunteer mentors in Ealing. With Ark Acton Academy joining the programme, the charity hopes to connect with individuals from all walks of life who are willing to give just one hour a week to help change a young person’s life.
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