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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s partnership with mentoring charity MCR Pathways has seen more than 100 SFRS staff volunteer around 3,000 hours to support 140 young people across Scotland.
Through the programme, firefighters and other SFRS staff are matched with young people and commit around an hour a week to meet at their school. The aim is to provide consistent support, encouragement and someone to talk to as young people navigate school, further education, apprenticeships or early career choices.
To mark five years of the partnership, MCR Pathways visited SFRS national headquarters in Cambuslang. The visit brought together young people and their mentors, including Ben and his mentor Craig Connolly, a Watch Commander at Kirkintilloch Community Fire Station, and Oliver, who is mentored by firefighter Ryan Howie from Pollock Community Fire Station in Glasgow.
Andrew Watt, SFRS Deputy Chief Officer, said the service was proud of the partnership and the role it plays in communities.
“Fire stations are at the heart of communities across Scotland,” he said. “That puts us in a strong position to support young people through positive role models. Mentoring also helps our own staff grow as individuals and professionals.”
Ben and Oliver shared what the experience of mentoring has meant to them. While the programme has a focus on future pathways, both spoke about the impact it has had on their confidence and self-belief.
Oliver said mentoring felt “safe”, adding that it was often easier to open up to someone outside his family.
“We connected through sports and games, and that helped me become more confident,” he said. “Having that hour every week to talk about anything without judgement is a massive relief and helps you feel better about yourself.”
Ben described mentoring as a lifeline during the senior phase of school. “Being a teenager means having lots of ideas, and school can rush you,” he said. “Mentoring helped me figure out what I want to do. It’s amazing to have a trustworthy adult who always has your back.”
As part of the visit, Ben and Oliver were given a tour of the SFRS National Training Centre, offering a closer look at the realities of the firefighter role.
“Days like this show young people what it’s really like,” Oliver said. “The training, the effort, and how they deal with serious incidents – it was incredible.”
Ben added: “It shows firefighting isn’t just about fires. It’s about helping people in so many ways. I didn’t realise how tough the job was until today.”
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