Prison mentoring scheme shown to have positive impact
A prison mentoring scheme has led to noticeable improvements to the behaviour of young people convicted of violent offences, an independent evaluation has found.
The Young Adult Mentoring Programme, funded by Nottinghamshire's Violence Reduction Partnership and delivered by Ingeus at HMP Ranby, helps young adults aged 18-25 to develop emotional resilience, life skills, positive relationships, and pathways away from violence and reoffending.
Rather than focusing solely on offending behaviour, the programme takes a strengths-based, personalised approach that helps participants understand their experiences, build resilience, and develop practical strategies for managing emotions and conflict.
It does this by combining one-to-one mentoring, group workshops, emotional regulation training, and peer support opportunities.
The Violence Reduction Partnership is a Home Office-funded initiative dedicated to reducing serious violence across Nottinghamshire by taking a public health approach. It brings together police, local authorities and community organisations to deliver long-term, sustainable solutions that support young people and communities.
Gary Godden, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chair of the VRP, said: "This programme is helping young adults build the confidence, resilience and life skills they need to move away from violence and make positive choices for their future.
"The results show the real impact that personalised support and positive role models can have in reducing offending and giving young people hope, purpose and a pathway to a better life."
An evaluation into the project was convened by the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Violence Reduction Partnership and conducted by researchers from Loughborough University.
Findings revealed that participants developed stronger emotional awareness, improved self-control, healthier relationships, and greater confidence in their ability to make positive life choices both inside prison and upon release.
Participants consistently reported that hearing authentic stories of people who had successfully rebuilt their lives after prison gave them hope and motivation for change.
One participant described the programme's impact and how it had changed his outlook.
He said: “It gives you the tools to manage your own emotions.
“For me it's made everything change. How I live my day-to-day life in here. It's all heavily based around the future that when I first arrived at prison I didn't think I had.”
Since its launch in 2024, the mentoring programme has seen five cohorts successfully complete the intervention and a sixth reach full capacity.
Prison staff reported noticeable improvements in participants' behaviour, wellbeing and engagement, with incidents that did occur often being less serious and less likely to escalate.
The evaluation highlights the programme's success in recognising the unique needs of young adults, many of whom have experienced trauma, exclusion from education, poor mental health, homelessness, and exposure to violence from an early age.
A key factor in the programme's success has been the involvement of staff and mentors with lived experience of the criminal justice system.
The evaluation comes as further recognition for Ingeus, who won a Young Futures Award for the Young Adult Mentoring Programme at the Police and Crime Commissioner's Awards in 2025, an annual celebration of individuals and organisations who are performing outstanding community work and supporting the PCC's Police and Crime Plan.
James Foreman, Regional Manager at Ingeus, said: “This programme demonstrates what can be achieved when support focuses on the whole person.
"Working in partnership with the Violence Reduction Partnership and local stakeholders has enabled us to deliver meaningful, person-centred support that helps individuals develop the skills and confidence they need to move away from violence and build safer, more stable futures.
"These findings reinforce the importance of early, tailored intervention and the value of listening to and investing in young people.”
Governor Eve Dougan, Head of residence at HMP Ranby, said: "Ranby is proud to be part of the Violence Reduction Partnership's Intervention programme for young adults and to support its continued development.
"The initiative represents a structured and evidence-informed approach to reducing violence, promoting positive behaviour, and improving outcomes across the establishment.
"Early indications demonstrate a constructive impact on engagement, behaviour management, and overall safety for both prisoners and staff."
Researchers concluded that the programme offers a promising model for reducing violence, supporting rehabilitation, and helping young adults build meaningful futures beyond crime.