A recruitment drive is underway in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, to find adult mentors for students who need extra support at school. The charity MCR Pathways is operating its Young Herts Talent programme in Hertfordshire and is recruiting around 200 volunteer mentors to help young people gain confidence and stay in education.
Volunteers are asked to give one hour each week during the school term to meet with a secondary school student. Meetings are typically held on-site at participating secondary schools during the school day where the MCR programme operates, and mentors are matched with pupils to provide a consistent, non-judgemental adult for students to talk to. The programme focuses on supporting care-experienced and disadvantaged pupils and those who are frequently absent from classes.
Department for Education figures show persistent absence remains elevated nationally (17.63% in the combined autumn and spring terms 2024/25), underlining ongoing attendance and engagement challenges for many pupils. Local partners in Hertfordshire and MCR Pathways have identified a confidence gap among disadvantaged pupils following several years of disrupted learning; the mentoring drive aims to help address that local need.
Training cohorts for new volunteers are expected in late February and March 2026, but prospective mentors should check the MCR Pathways or GoVolHerts listings for confirmed dates. MCR Pathways says a mentor’s role is to listen and encourage; residents interested in becoming a mentor can find more information and sign up through the GoVolHerts website: https://www.govolherts.org.uk/o/MCR-Pathways/opportunities/MCR-Pathways-Mentoring/63704
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