Young Scottish Talent (YST) is a school-based mentoring programme that matches volunteer mentors with secondary pupils. Every school in the programme has a Pathways Coordinator who is responsible for getting to know the students and matching them with the right mentor. Once paired, our mentors support the young person they’re matched with through one-to-one sessions in school for one period each week. The YST programme also offers Talent Tasters – bite-sized experiences of college, university and employment.

Mentors engage with young people about their future, focusing on what paths to take. Mentors provide a consistent presence and act as careful guides without imposing any personal ideas or opinions. A mentor is simply an added source of support. Someone there to listen, to encourage, and to help young people reach their potential.

Young Scottish Talent is run by MCR Pathways, a charity whose vision is for an equality of education outcomes, job choices and life chances for all young people, including ones experiencing disadvantage.