Prison mentoring scheme helps reduce reoffending by two-thirds

A prison ‘mentoring’ initiative that has significantly reduced reoffending rates has been awarded a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The Merseyside Offender Mentoring scheme has helped to reduce the number of prisoners reoffending by more than two-thirds.

The main focus of the project is to improve the links between offenders leaving custody and the community, which is seen as key to helping offenders change for the better. Volunteer mentors build positive relationships with prisoners, providing practical and emotional support that reflects their individual requirements and needs on release, which helps to prevent them from reoffending.

Merseyside police and crime commissioner (PCC) Jane Kennedy, who has provided funding for the scheme for the past two years, has agreed to fund for the project for a further 12 months after being impressed with its success.

The voluntary scheme is run by Waterloo-based Sefton Council for Voluntary Services working in close partnership with Merseyside Police. It operates in HMPs Liverpool and Kennet and not only provides support and guidance to Merseyside-based offenders before they are released from prison, but also when they are living back in the community through the team of volunteer mentors. It also enables offenders within the prison walls to work as ‘peer mentors’ to support those who have been recently locked up.

Between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015, the mentoring scheme engaged with 867 prisoners and successfully matched 112 of those with a volunteer mentor, many of whom are rehabilitated ex-offenders. Those volunteer mentors then provide the offender with support, advice and guidance both before and after their release from prison.

By providing such tailored one-on-one support to help offenders rebuild their lives after their release, just 17.9 per cent of participants returned to prison, compared to the national average of 60 per cent, a reduction of two-thirds.

The scheme also helped 41 per cent of participants access additional support for alcohol and drug issues, while 36 per cent of ex-offenders enrolled in education or training programmes and 27 per cent successfully gained employment or volunteer work.

Deputy PCC Ann O’Byrne said: “This scheme has had a significant impact, the results are clear to see and I am delighted all their hard work has been recognised through this award.

“By providing dedicated, comprehensive support and helping offenders tackle the problems, which in many case may have led to them being imprisoned in the first place, the Merseyside Offender Mentoring project has helped reduce the number of offenders returning to prison from 60 per cent to less than 18 per cent. By working with a range of partners, the scheme is also helping ex-offenders find housing, address any issues with alcohol or drugs and get involved with further education and training.

“These impressive results demonstrate just how effectively Merseyside Offender Mentoring is helping offenders to turn their lives around and support them so they can settle effectively back into our communities and move on with their lives.

“Ultimately, this means less crime, fewer victims and safer neighbourhoods and that is why the PCC and I are keen to continue to give them our support over the next year.”

Project manager Vicky Olsen said: “We all believe that the mentoring project has a really important contribution to make in terms of helping offenders with their rehabilitation and by keeping them away from crime, improving their opportunities and supporting their positive resettlement back into the community.”

The Merseyside Offender Mentoring scheme, which is now in its third year, is looking to develop its service to support female offenders, work with perpetrators of domestic violence and build on its existing services with young offenders.

It hopes that the volunteer mentors could also work in custody suites to help support individuals, particularly those with mental health issues, before they go to court.