Scottish Fire and Rescue Service staff give 3,000 hours to mentoring programme
Iain Hoey
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SFRS volunteering supports 140 young people through mentoring with MCR Pathways
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) said its partnership with MCR Pathways has involved more than 100 workforce volunteers giving around 3,000 hours to mentor 140 young people across Scotland.
The organisation said the figures were shared as MCR Pathways visited SFRS National Headquarters in Cambuslang to mark the five-year partnership.
The visit included two young people in the programme, Ben and Oliver, alongside their mentors from the service.
SFRS said Craig Connolly, a Watch Commander at Kirkintilloch Community Fire Station, mentors Ben.
SFRS said Ryan Howie, a firefighter from Pollock Community Fire Station in Glasgow, mentors Oliver.
How the mentoring programme operates
MCR Pathways said its aim is to support young people in finding paths to brighter futures across Scotland through its mentoring programme.
The charity said volunteers can apply to become mentors and are then matched with a young person.
MCR Pathways said meetings then take place at the young person’s school.
The charity said a mentor can provide support and a listening ear as young people consider future career paths, including university, college or an apprenticeship.
It said the programme can involve one hour a week.
Young people describe their experiences
Oliver said: “The word ‘mentoring’ feels safe, like someone you can rely on.
“It can be easier to open up to someone outside your family.”
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.
“Mentoring helped me figure out what I want to do.
“It’s amazing to have a trustworthy adult who always has your back.”
Firefighter mentors on the time commitment
Ryan 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 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.”
Visit to the National Training Centre
SFRS said Ben and Oliver received a tour of the SFRS National Training Centre during the headquarters visit.
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.”
Leaders set out the partnership purpose
Andrew Watt, Deputy Chief Officer, said: “We are immensely proud of our partnership with MCR Pathways.”
He said the service recognises the value of positive role models and that fire stations are at the heart of communities across Scotland.
Watt said the service’s position as a trusted partner can make a positive impact for young people pursuing brighter futures through mentoring.
He added that the experience also helps the team to grow as individuals and professionals and enhances learning.
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.”
She added: “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.”
What the figures mean for community engagement roles
The SFRS figures provide a reference point for fire and rescue leaders, community safety teams and training officers planning staff volunteering in schools.
The programme model described by MCR Pathways is based on a weekly one-hour commitment and school-based meetings, which may help services estimate time, supervision and scheduling needs.
The involvement of operational firefighters and a Watch Commander highlights how mentoring can be delivered alongside frontline roles, where local station links exist.
The headquarters visit and tour of the National Training Centre also shows how mentoring activity can connect with public understanding of firefighter training and capability.
For organisations considering similar partnerships, the named examples give practical insight into how matches are formed, how conversations develop over time and how young people describe changes in confidence and career thinking.