Mentoring disaffected young people – an evaluation of Mentoring Plus

Author: Shiner, Michael; Young, Tara; Newburn, Tim; Groben, Sylvie
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Summary: This study is one of the first to provide first-hand evidence of whether mentoring programmes aimed at reducing youth disaffection are effective. It focuses on ten programmes, known as Mentoring Plus. It reviews the process by which the programmes were implemented and the outcomes they achieved. It examines the way in which vulnerable young people become involved in a mentoring programme, reviews their experiences of participating and assesses the experiences of staff and volunteers mentors. The authors identify the medium-term impact of mentoring on those young people involved, focusing specifically on social engagement (education, training and work), levels of offending, drug use and general well-being. The report considers what policy makers, funders and participants can do to improve the effectiveness of such schemes in the future.

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