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Mentoring matters: Why it’s vital for young people experiencing the ‘care system’

Mentoring is increasingly being recognised as a powerful form of early intervention, offering vital support to young people. Christine Roxburgh, Fund Manager for intandem — a mentoring programme for young people experiencing Scotland’s care system and proudly delivered by Inspiring Scotland — shares her recent reflections and highlights why mentoring really matters.

Recent high-profile programmes like Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis and The Richard Dimbleby Lecture with Sir Gareth Southgate have spotlighted mentoring’s potential to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Closer to home, last week I read the Who Cares? Scotland report “Exclusion Labelled as Support” – Care Experienced Children in Scotland’s Education System. It echoes a familiar concern: the support available to children and young people is often inconsistent, which can significantly impact their ability to fully access their right to education. Mentoring is identified as a valuable form of support for young people experiencing the care system, but it’s not always available.

At intandem, we see the impact of mentoring every day. Our 2025 annual research shows just how transformative it can be for young people experiencing the care system when it comes to their education:

• 91% of young people said mentoring helped them become more interested in learning
• 80% said it helped them attend school more regularly
• 85% said it supported them in managing emotions at school
• 93% said it improved their relationships with friends and staff at school

“She helped me think differently about school.” – Young person
“I can manage my emotions better and behave better at school.” – Young person

These aren’t just statistics – they’re stories of real change. I could fill pages with quotes from young people describing how mentoring helped them get to school, stay in school longer, manage emotional challenges, and even dream bigger about their futures.

“I went to the library with her and read my first big book. I now love reading and I’m really good in English class.” – Young person

Mentoring works because it offers something simple but powerful: a consistent, trusted adult who listens, supports, and believes in a young person. Whether it’s helping someone navigate school, cope with challenges in their community, or explore their identity and place in the world, mentoring can be life changing.

But here’s the challenge: mentoring isn’t mainstream. Access is often a postcode lottery. Where programmes do exist, they’re usually limited in capacity often due to funding constraints and bound by eligibility criteria. One quote from the “Exclusion Labelled as Support” report captures this perfectly:

“I think they have mentors in the school as my sister gets extra help from one but I don’t, and I’m not sure why.”

Mentoring isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Some young people referred to intandem aren’t in a place where mentoring is right for them. Others may simply not want it – and that’s okay. But when the match is right — when a young person is ready and a mentor is committed — the results can be extraordinary.

I often find myself imagining what could be achieved if every young person experiencing the care system had access to a mentor when they needed one. How many more young people would feel supported, empowered, and hopeful about their future?

Mentoring isn’t just a helpful extra – it can be a vital lifeline. The introduction of the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill marks a significant step toward ensuring that young people experiencing the care system grow up feeling loved, safe, and respected. As this vision takes shape, I hope mentoring will be recognised not just as a service offered in some areas, but as a key part of the support system across Scotland – something every young person can access when they need it most. Because when that support is there, the difference it makes can last a lifetime.

Christine Roxburgh
Fund Manager, Policy and Participation Lead – intandem