Mentoring and Volunteering

Bettina Crossick

25th June 2013

Volunteering and

Mentoring in NOMS

NOMS is committed to developing and delivering

mentoring to offenders aiming to contribute to

reducing reoffending and providing value for money

Mentoring in the criminal justice context is usually seen as supporting and helping those wishing to

stop offending and improving positive life

outcomes.

Mentoring is widely available in

the Criminal Justice System

(CJS).

Models vary in size, scope, target group, aims and

objectives.

Evidence?

• Limited evidence to demonstrate the impact of mentoring • Although the evidence as a whole suggests mentoring can have

a positive effect on a number of outcomes, many findings have to be treated with a significant degree of caution due to methodological limitations (Tolan et al, 2008, Dubois et al, 2002).

• The positive results from studies on mentoring and peer mentoring often are not consistent or statistically significant (Lipsey et al, 2000, Joliffe and Farrington, 2007).

• Outcomes Project – NOMS commissioning research to help providers better define and measure intermediate outcomes, rather than relying solely on measures of reoffending.

• IMP – Implementation evaluated to consider wider roll-out

Volunteering and Mentoring Grants Programme

• 2011-2014

• Openly competed amongst VCSE organisations

• Eight recipients

• Aims to improve infrastructure and upscale mentoring opportunities

V&M hub: accessed by•Organisation

s and Services

•Offenders•Volunteers

Mapping of current volunteering and mentoring opportunities and

organisations, including mentoring organisations not currently working in CJS /

NOMS.

Organisations working to:1) Increase the number of offender, ex-offender & non-

offender volunteers in active service2) Small organisations with unique volunteer/offender

base mobilising volunteers

ServicesOpportunities

Gaps

Duplication (may need to diversify)

Areas with no (CJS)

V&M services

Lack of volunteers

Targeted marketing strategy to reach

potential volunteers and volunteering /

mentoring organisations.

Virtual campus

Training & toolkits (via CLINKS,

MBF, niche organisations)

Key Opportunities

• JustMentoring

• Approved Provider Standard

• Rehabilitation Programme – Service Commissioning