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Mentoring benefits are 'inflated' | Mentoring benefits are 'inflated' |
(about 10 hours later) | |
The benefits of mentoring have been exaggerated and remain unproven, despite the expansion in mentor schemes, claims a think-tank report. | The benefits of mentoring have been exaggerated and remain unproven, despite the expansion in mentor schemes, claims a think-tank report. |
The Centre for Policy Studies report claims mentors can lack adequate training and supervision. | The Centre for Policy Studies report claims mentors can lack adequate training and supervision. |
It says the government's political enthusiasm for mentoring has allowed the "rhetoric to outstrip the reality of what it can achieve". | It says the government's political enthusiasm for mentoring has allowed the "rhetoric to outstrip the reality of what it can achieve". |
Last week a Prince's Trust report backed mentoring as a way to cut crime. | Last week a Prince's Trust report backed mentoring as a way to cut crime. |
"Mentoring in the UK is in need of a fundamental re-think," says Youth Mentoring: A Good Thing, written by Richard Meier. | "Mentoring in the UK is in need of a fundamental re-think," says Youth Mentoring: A Good Thing, written by Richard Meier. |
Reducing crime | Reducing crime |
The report from the right-of-centre think tank challenges the assumption that mentoring is a successful way of supporting children and young adults. | The report from the right-of-centre think tank challenges the assumption that mentoring is a successful way of supporting children and young adults. |
It argues that expectations that mentors can improve educational achievement and help to tackle anti-social behaviour are not backed by sufficient evidence. | It argues that expectations that mentors can improve educational achievement and help to tackle anti-social behaviour are not backed by sufficient evidence. |
"The evidence base that mentoring benefits vulnerable youths is poor," concludes the report, which says there are now 3,500 schemes using mentoring. | "The evidence base that mentoring benefits vulnerable youths is poor," concludes the report, which says there are now 3,500 schemes using mentoring. |
"The government should stop make inflated claims for the efficacy of mentoring and recognise that it can only work in specific circumstances." | "The government should stop make inflated claims for the efficacy of mentoring and recognise that it can only work in specific circumstances." |
Poorly defined | Poorly defined |
Describing mentoring as "an off-the-shelf, poorly-defined concept", the report claims that there is a lack of consistency in the qualifications, training and support for mentors - and a lack of rigour in setting out what mentors are meant to achieve. | Describing mentoring as "an off-the-shelf, poorly-defined concept", the report claims that there is a lack of consistency in the qualifications, training and support for mentors - and a lack of rigour in setting out what mentors are meant to achieve. |
However, a report last week published by the Prince's Trust argued in support of one-to-one mentoring as a means to reduce youth crime and re-offending. | However, a report last week published by the Prince's Trust argued in support of one-to-one mentoring as a means to reduce youth crime and re-offending. |
The report, Making the Case, said that mentoring bring positive benefits. | The report, Making the Case, said that mentoring bring positive benefits. |
"For young offenders, it provides positive role models they can grow to trust and believe in; for mentors, the positive impact on young peopleâs lives provides a real sense of worth, while for society at large it is one way of helping to reduce offending." | "For young offenders, it provides positive role models they can grow to trust and believe in; for mentors, the positive impact on young peopleâs lives provides a real sense of worth, while for society at large it is one way of helping to reduce offending." |
A survey from the Prince's Trust found that 65% of young offenders under the age of 25 said that having the support of a mentor would help them to stop re-offending. | A survey from the Prince's Trust found that 65% of young offenders under the age of 25 said that having the support of a mentor would help them to stop re-offending. |
A peer mentoring scheme to tackle bullying has also been launched last week, with 150 schools taking part in a pilot scheme funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. | A peer mentoring scheme to tackle bullying has also been launched last week, with 150 schools taking part in a pilot scheme funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. |
A spokeswoman for the DCSF said: "Mentoring is just one approach to working with challenging young people. Itâs no easy job to turn around lives and whatâs needed is a rounded approach. | |
"It's as a result of this rounded approach to policy making that we are addressing entrenched problems like teenage pregnancy and drug use by young people, both of which are falling." |
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