To mark International Women’s Day 2018, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, has signed up to mentor a woman through a scheme run by the Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights (CRER) -a Scottish strategic racial equality charity, based in Glasgow.
Through the mentoring scheme, Ruth hopes to help a young woman achieve her goals and reach her full potential.
The First Minister’s ‘First Mentor’ scheme, now in its second year, is supported by organisations such as the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Sports Association, and the First Minister has called on more women who feel that they have something to offer to launch their own mentorship schemes.
Commenting, Ruth said:
“I am really looking forward to giving my time and sharing my experiences with a young woman to help them achieve their dreams – whatever they may be. And I have absolutely no doubt that I will gain a lot from the experience myself.
“Changing perceptions is really important – if young women don’t perceive a glass ceiling, they are more likely to set higher goals for themselves. We have a duty as female public figures to set a positive example and indeed inspire the next generation of female leaders.
“Nicola Sturgeon’s gender-balanced Cabinet is just one example of ways in which we can stoke the ambitions of the next generation and remind them that their gender is not a barrier.
“I hope that I can inspire whoever applies to my mentorship scheme to believe in themselves and believe that they can do whatever they set their minds to.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 