Liz Felstead and Her Role as a Mentor in Stevenage
Liz Felstead, the Managing Director at Essential Results in Stevenage, is more than just a professional helping people find jobs. She is also a dedicated mentor with the MCR Pathways programme, a national initiative aimed at supporting young people through mentoring. Her story reflects both her personal journey and her passion for giving back to the community.
Why Liz Became a Mentor
Liz’s decision to become a mentor with MCR Pathways stems from her own experiences in school. She recalls how, back in her school days, life seemed very black and white. The system appeared to categorise students as either “clever” or “thick,” and she felt she fell into the latter category. This made it hard for her to see many future options, and at the age of 16, she left school without considering higher education. Fortunately, she found a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) course that set her on the right path.
Looking back, Liz believes that having a mentor at the time—someone who was impartial, offered advice, and provided information about future possibilities—could have made a big difference. It’s this realisation that inspired her to become a mentor herself. She wanted to be the kind of person who could help young people explore opportunities they might not see on their own.
The MCR Pathways Programme
MCR Pathways is a mentoring programme designed to support disadvantaged young people across the UK. The programme pairs young people with volunteer mentors who offer guidance, a listening ear, and practical advice. The goal is to help students improve their confidence, attendance at school, and overall performance. The programme aims to inspire young people to believe in themselves and take control of their futures.
For Liz, becoming part of this programme means she gets to offer her time and attention to a young person who needs it. “It takes a couple of hours out of my week, term time only,” she explains. “But the difference it can make is incredible. The support for mentors is amazing, with lots of training, resources, and meet-ups. We all need that reassurance that we’re doing it right and making a difference.”
The Impact of Mentoring
Mentoring isn’t just about helping the student; it’s also a rewarding experience for the mentor. Liz finds that her own skills, such as listening and time management, have greatly improved since she started. “My listening skills are improving, and my time management is loads better,” she says. “It was hard to make the time to begin with, but now I look forward to my weekly meetings.”
During these meetings, Liz and her mentee have built a strong rapport. They talk about a wide range of topics, from football scores and school lunches to what’s happening in the local area. Through these conversations, Liz is not only able to offer guidance but also learn more about how today’s younger generation feels about the world around them. She describes this as “learning lovely and scary information,” showing how mentoring opens up conversations that might not otherwise happen.
The impact on the student is clear, too. Pupils who are involved in MCR Pathways often show improved attendance and more engagement in school. “The facts speak for themselves,” Liz says. “Building confidence and giving them your 100% attention for that hour is a great experience for both parties. Once you get to know each other, it’s really rewarding.”
Supporting the Next Generation
As the owner at Essential Results, Liz helps people find jobs in Stevenage, but her mentoring role allows her to contribute to the community in a different way. While her job focuses on matching candidates with employers, her role as a mentor focuses on helping young people develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in life, whether that’s in education, employment, or beyond.
Liz is particularly proud of the support network that MCR Pathways provides to its mentors. “The support for mentors is amazing,” she says. This support includes regular training sessions, access to resources, and opportunities to meet with other mentors to share experiences. It ensures that mentors like Liz always feel confident in their role and are equipped to offer the best possible support to their mentees.
The Importance of Mentorship in Stevenage
In a town like Stevenage, where many young people face challenges, programmes like MCR Pathways can make a huge difference. By providing mentors in Stevenage, the programme helps ensure that young people have the guidance and encouragement they need to overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.
For Liz, being part of this programme is more than just a commitment of her time; it’s a chance to give back to her community in a meaningful way. “I do look forward to my weekly meetings,” she says, adding that the experience has helped her grow personally as well.
Liz Felstead’s involvement in the MCR Pathways mentoring programme shows how one person can make a big difference in the life of a young person. By offering her time, attention, and support, she’s helping to shape the next generation in Stevenage. The programme itself is an essential resource for young people, helping them build confidence, improve their school performance, and develop skills they will carry into adulthood.
If you’re looking to get involved in your local community and become a mentor, programmes like MCR Pathways provide the perfect opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of young people.
