• Peer Mentoring for Distance Learners in the South East
Why this project?
- We know from feedback from those we fund that distance learning is challenging and prisoners are often alone in their learning. They want and need more support.
- We want to increase the completion and success rates of distance learners – we think peer mentoring support could make a difference.
The Trust’s focus is on peer mentoring for learning.
The Trust has already developed and successfully delivered a peer mentoring programme in a number of Young Offender Institutions and is now extending the scheme to adult prisons.
The programme consists of recruiting peer mentors, prisoners who have themselves been successful learners or who are showing a genuine interest in education, to provide support to other distance learners in prison.
In order to equip the future mentors with the skills needed for their role, the Trust provides training in the form of a NOCN level 2 peer mentoring course regionally or nationally accredited (OCN progression awards). This will ensure that not only the peer mentoring sessions are delivered to recognised standards but also that the mentors get a qualification that they can use after release.
The course covers the following topics:
- The role of the mentor
- The benefits of a peer mentoring for learning relationship
- Mentoring skills
- Power and boundaries
- Communication skills
- Study skills
- How to run a mentoring session
The course delivery consists of group discussion and pair work. The future mentors are also asked to complete some work in their cell.
For Further Information
If you are interested in the project or are involved in mentoring, please contact Stephanie Crespin for further information, South East.
Andrea Pullen for further information, Central England.
Read on...
Peer Mentoring Project: Case Studies
Peer Mentoring Project. 1st Birthday Update
Peer Mentoring project: Fighting for distance learning in prisons
This Project is funded by The Wates Foundation
Peer Support for Learning: Adding Value. Learning Matters briefing paper.
This Briefing Paper outlines the range of peer support roles that prisoners take on to support other prisoners in learning. It makes the case for ensuring that accredited training for learning is available in all prisons.
Glossary
NOCN. National Open College Network
OCN. Open College Network
ETE. Employment, Training & Education
HoLS. Head of Learning & Skills
LAP. London Advice Partnership