• Youth Education Project
This project finished in 2008. The peer mentoring course developed within the project provided a foundation for two further projects which are developing peer mentoring in adult prisons in South East England and cnetral Englad.
The Project offered young men in Young Offender Institutions the opportunity to gain skills and qualifications beyond the basics, mainly through distance learning.
These young men are some of the most unconfident and disaffected learners. The Project Adviser offered them:
- Information about what is involved in distance learning.
- Ideas about the kinds of courses available and possible career paths.
- Help to apply for funds if they are unable to pay for the course themselves.
- On-going support with their studies.
- Advice and discussions with education staff about all aspects of distance learning.
As a result of the project, the number of young offenders applying for distance learning grants increased considerably. In 2009, the Trust funded 483 young offenders, over a quarter of the total number of grants amde.
Mentoring
As well as providing one-to-one advice, the project has developed a way that successful learners can help those who are just starting.
The project worker developed a course to train mentors and gained accreditation status for the course with the Open College Network, at level 2. A pilot scheme in 2007 saw the course run in 4 young offender institutions and there are now 12 young people supporting their peers. In the following year, the course was delivered in a further four young offender institutions.
For more information about the project please contact info@prisonerseducation.org.uk
