Scottish Fire and Rescue Service mark five-year mentoring partnership of supporting young people across Scotland

The MCR charity’s aim is to support young people to finding paths to brighter futures across Scotland through their mentoring programme. As young people navigate their future career paths which could involve further education through university or college or an apprenticeship, an MCR mentor can be there for a young person to provide support and a listening ear.

People can apply to become a volunteer mentor through the charity and they are then ‘matched’ with a young person. Meetings thereafter take place at the young person’s school, and this can involve the mentor providing just one hour a week which can make all the difference to a young person.

To mark the five-year partnership, the charity visited SFRS national headquarters in Cambuslang.

The visit included Ben and his mentor, firefighter Craig Connolly who is a Watch Commander at Kirkintilloch Community Fire Station.

Also attending the visit was Oliver, who is mentored by firefighter Ryan Howie from Pollock Community Fire Station in Glasgow.

Ben and Oliver shared their experiences of what it is like having a mentor and while the mentorship programme has a focus on future careers, what often transpires for young people is increased confidence and belief in themselves.

 

Oliver said: “We connected through sports and games, and that helped me become more confident. Having that hour every week to talk about anything without judgement is a massive relief and helps in feeling better about yourself.”

 

Ben said: “Mentoring is one of the best things for getting through the senior phase of school. It’s great having someone you can talk to every week. We connected through honesty and getting to know each other. Being a teenager means having lots of ideas, and school can rush you. 

Mentors also benefit from their connections to young people and find the role rewarding.

Ryan, who has mentored Oliver for the past year, said: “There’s so much pressure on young people to have their lives mapped out so early. Giving an hour a week to support someone’s confidence and opportunities felt like time well spent. I’ve seen Oliver’s confidence grow—from me steering the conversation to now having a balanced, natural chat.”

Craig has mentored Ben for two and half years. He said: “The SFRS has a course called Fire Skills and I was an instructor teaching young people teamwork, communication and problem-solving. Seeing them unlock potential they didn’t know they had was incredible. Mentoring felt like the perfect next step to help another young person grow. I build connections by being true to my word, showing up, remembering what matters to them, and letting trust grow naturally.”

 

After sharing experiences, the group received a tour of the SFRS National Training Centre which also gave Ben and Oliver a greater insight into the role of a firefighter.

Oliver said: “Days like this show young people what it’s really like to be a firefighter: the effort, training, and everything it takes to do the job. Seeing how they deal with house fires or stacked cars was incredible.”

Ben said: “It was great, really fun. I didn’t know what to expect, but I learned a lot. It shows being a firefighter isn’t just about fires; it’s about helping people in so many ways and doing it without ego. I didn’t realise how tough the job was until today.” 

Andrew Watt is SFRS Deputy Chief Officer. He said: “We are immensely proud of our partnership with MCR Pathways. Recognising the value of positive role models within society, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has a leading role to play. Fire stations are at the heart of communities across Scotland. That positioning is crucial, as a trusted partner, to make a positive impact for young people pursuing brighter futures through the power of mentoring. The experience also helps our team to grow both as individuals and professionals, enhances our learning and our ability to do more in the future.”

Sharon MacIntyre, Chief Executive of MCR Pathways, said: “Mentors like Craig and Ryan, who show up every week despite demanding roles as firefighters, are crucial to helping young people find paths to brighter futures. A trusted adult who turns up unconditionally can transform a young person’s life.

“That power of having one trusted adult unconditionally in your corner, who consistently turns up for their young person, no matter what, can be truly transformational and life-changing. We are truly grateful for all that the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are doing in supporting young people through MCR Pathways and in championing the power of mentoring and encouraging more staff to come forward in becoming mentors.”

For further information about becoming a mentor - https://mcrpathways.org/become-a-mentor/

If you’d like to become a partner, like Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, please contact - partnerships@mcrpathways.org