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Project Summary

What are the aims of the project?

Who are the beneficiaries of the project?

What is the role of the Mentor?

What does the programme consist of?

Project Staff

How is the project managed?

What are the annual targets of the project?

Is there an evaluation of the project's operation available?

Mentoring Plus is a youth crime prevention project working with young people, living in the Bath and North East Somerset area, who have offended or are at high risk of offending. This includes young people with previous convictions and those currently the subject of criminal court orders. Many participants will have a history of truanting and exclusion from mainstream education. The project provides 12-17 year olds with an intensive community based mentoring and education support programme structured over one year. It is core-funded by Bath & North East Somerset Council with additional support from BCP, Quartet, Connexions, Youth Service, the Police, local businesses and charitable trusts, amongst others.

AIMS

To reduce youth crime and other at-risk behaviour
To increase young people's involvement in education, training and employment
To empower young people to maximise their potential
To enhance young people's sense of personal and community responsibility
To enable community members to become involved in solving community difficulties through volunteering
To work in partnership with local agencies to the benefit of the community

BENEFICIARIES

20-25 young people, between the ages of 12-17 years, are recruited each year. These are young people who are experiencing difficulties or presenting problems in the areas identified by the Youth Justice Board, namely the Family, Educational History, Environmental conditions, and the Individual. Referrals are accepted from voluntary and statutory agencies as well as friends and family. Participation is voluntary and self-referrals are therefore particularly welcome. Click here to download a referral form.

MENTORS

Each young person is matched for one year with a volunteer mentor, recruited from the local community. Mentors are trained to guide participants through the programme and support their personal, social and educational development. They are supportive, non-judgmental role models who assist young people to develop and achieve their personal goals. The 'Community Mentoring' Award is formally accredited by the Open College Network.

Click for futher Mentor info

PROGRAMME

KEY activities are offered to new referrals.
The programme begins with a 3 day Residential Course consisting of challenging outdoor activities and focused groupwork. Aswell as providing a stimulating and rewarding activity weekend, the residentail also assists the mentor / mentee matching process.
The Mentoring component is core throughout the programme. There is weekly contact between matched mentors and young people which includes regular action plan reviews. A range of social activities sustains motivation and creates support networks.
The Education and Training Programme, provided in partnership with local training providers, is designed to provide practical, social and educational support. Interest Groups assist the development of skills required in the workplace, for instance, attendance, teamwork and communication skills as well as providing young people with practical skills. A variety of groups are offered including a Motor Group, Cookery Group, Bicycle Group, DJ Project and Creative Performance Group. All are accredited by the Youth Achievement Award Scheme.
The Community Volunteering Programme offers young people the opportunity to develop work-related skills, gain formal work experience and positively contribute to their community.

Click here for a more detailed Mentor Programme

Project Staff

The project is currently staffed by a number of permanent, sessional staff and student social workers. Permanent staff comprise of:

Briony Waite (Project Director)

Humphrey Pain (Project Administrator)

Andy Graham ( Mentor Co-ordinator)

John Melbourne (Young People/KEY Co-ordinator)

Jim Little (Project Worker)

Sally Jackson (Project Worker)

Michelle Kelly (Hear By Right Co-ordinator)

Project Management

The work of the project is overseen by the B&NES Crime Prevention Panel comprising representatives from social, educational and youth services, the Police, Connexions and the Youth Offending Team.
As well as aiding delivery of the Mentoring Plus project in the framework of crime prevention service provision in B&NES, the steering panel is responsible for the review of project core funding.

Since Mentoring Plus became an independent charity (charity number 1112534) and began operating as a limited company (Company No. 5589316), the project has been managed by an elected board of Trustees. Trustees bring expertise and experience from a variety of professional backgrounds including legal, publicity, mentors, finance, the voluntary sector, business and industry. The members provide advice and guidance on project development and opertaional issues.

The current board of Trustees are:

Michael Tichelar - Chairman

Briony Waite - Project Director

Jocelyn Nichols - Treasurer

Helen Samuel

Terri Davey

John Brownrigg

Andy Graham

Jo Bridger

Steve Wilkinson

Robert Tuttle

We are very pleased to have two high profile supporters of Mentoring Plus in:

Professor Rod Morgan, President of Mentoring Plus

and

Ken Loach, Film Director, Patron of Mentoring Plus

ANNUAL OUTCOME TARGETS

70% of participants in education, training or employment

60% reduction in arrests

50% reduction in self-reported offending

EVALUATION

Mentoring Plus has been independently evaluated. A summary report is available for download here: EVALUATION REPORT