The new partnership will see Blackwood people bring its professional skills, knowledge and life experience to MCR Pathways’ mentoring programme, giving young people access to trusted adults with a wide range of experiences, perspectives and career journeys.

Working across housing, care and technology throughout Scotland, Blackwood has a diverse workforce with valuable experience to share. The partnership recognises the potential of that experience to make a difference beyond colleagues’ day-to-day roles, while giving Blackwood people the opportunity to develop their own skills and perspectives through mentoring.

It also creates opportunities for young people to learn about different careers and pathways they may not previously have considered, including the breadth of roles available within Scotland’s housing and care sectors.

Jason MacGilp, chief executive of Blackwood Homes and Care Group, said: “Our people bring an incredible range of skills, knowledge and life experience to Blackwood, and this partnership gives them an opportunity to use that experience to make a difference beyond their day-to-day roles.

“MCR Pathways shares our belief in helping people recognise their potential and Live Life to the Full. We’re proud to be working together to support young people across Scotland, while giving our own people an opportunity to learn and develop through mentoring.”

The partnership was driven forward within Blackwood by organisational development manager Fiona Ralph, who is herself an MCR Pathways mentor and saw a natural connection between the two organisations.

Fiona said: “I was really keen to bring MCR Pathways and Blackwood together because I could see how closely our values align and how much our people have to offer. We have colleagues with such varied skills and life experiences, and mentoring is a fantastic opportunity to share that with young people, while our own people learn and grow from the experience too.”