Mentoring guides young offenders

Avon and Somerset Police has been running various youth activities in Bath and the surrounding district to keep youngsters entertained throughout the summer, most recently taking part in the Mentoring Plus Key Project.
Mentoring Plus is aimed at young offenders, or those at risk of offending, aged between 12 and 16 years old. Each young person is matched with a mentor from the local community for one year. It is the responsibility of the mentor to guide and support the young person personally, socially and educationally, helping them to develop and achieve their personal goals.
Most recently, Mentoring Plus has brought young people from challenging backgrounds together for activities such as canoeing, pony-trekking, circus skills and circular walks.
Police officers and staff from the force have been involved with the mentoring scheme and actively supporting and contributing to the district’s B-active website, which is a central point for coordinating projects and activities for young children in the area.
PC Simon Selby, youth strategy officer, explained: “Our officers and staff have always been keen to volunteer to support this. Everyone who becomes involved thoroughly enjoys the experience. The young people engage and never fail to impress everyone with their enthusiasm and qualities. These young people often have only come into contact with the police for the wrong reasons, this project builds bridges between us and them and by the end of the day most forget we are police officers.”