We spoke to Nicole, 15, about her experiences with MCR Pathways, one of our charity partners

It makes me enjoy school so much more now that I have a period of time just to talk to [my mentor]. 

When I was 14 I wasn't going to school very much and was also turning up really late, like hours late. 

I was in a meeting with my Head of Year, and she mentioned Young Herts Talent, and introduced me to my mentor Ali. I wasn't sure what to expect at first - what we'd talk about or whether I'd get along with her or not. But when I met her and we got past that awkward stage when we didn't know each other, we could talk about anything. We just had a chat for an hour and it felt like a break from lessons. We met in school once a week and we just talk about everything that has happened recently. 

It's had a massive impact on me and it has definitely made a difference because this term I have 100% attendance and I've only been about 5 mins late a few times! 

It makes me enjoy school so much more now that I have a period of time just to talk to her. 

MCR Pathways is a national mentoring charity dedicated to address the deep-rooted inequality in education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances for young people in care and from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Young Herts Talent is a school-based mentoring programme that matches volunteer mentors with secondary school students to support them through one-to-one mentoring sessions in school for one period a week.