Case studies: Mosaic’s Offender Mentoring Programme

How we are creating fresh starts and sustained job opportunities for young ex-offenders.

Julian Yorke

Programmes Development Manager, Mosaic

About Mosaic

Mosaic inspires young people from deprived communities to realise their talents and potential.

Founded by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2007, Mosaic’s mentoring programmes create opportunities for young people growing up in our most deprived communities. Our programmes are delivered by volunteers to lift the aspirations of young people. We aim to help close the gap between those aspirations and their attainment.

Unlocking the talent and realising the full potential of every young person, whatever their background or circumstances, is a cause close to my heart. It gives me great joy to see the sense of self-worth and belonging Mosaic provides by extending that much-needed helping hand to those of our diverse communities who need it most.

HRH The Prince of Wales Founder of Mosaic

Mosaic believe in a simple proposition:

Young people will succeed if they are supported by those who are already successful.

We link young people with positive role models, who can enhance their confidence, self-efficacy and long-term employability.

Each of our programmes is based on a foundation of mentoring support, tailored to the needs of particular groups:

• Primary School students• Secondary School students• EX-OFFENDERS

What is Mosaic’s ex-offender programme a response to?

• Approx 12% of the prison estate identify as Muslim, compared with a representation of just 3% in wider society

•Research suggests that 63% of the Muslim prison population are re-offenders

•A lack of services aimed towards the Muslim prison population

•Lack of willingness from service users to engage with mainstream services

•Lack of community support

•Well established link between employment and reduced rates of re-offending

•64% of our clients have never been in formal employment

Mosaic’s Ex-Offender Programme – what is it?

• 12months mentoring – six months pre-release, six post-release• Mentoring supports individuals sentence plan and plans to support

desistance from offending upon release• Programme delivered in London, South East, Midlands, Yorkshire and North

West• Matches made based on need, as well as common areas of interest• Majority of mentors are Muslim but they don’t need to be• 60-40 gender split between female and male mentors

A ‘through the gates’ mentoring programme for Muslim men and women aged 17-35yrs olds

• In the first instance, we’ve constructed a programme relevant to the client group and endorsed by them

• We have worked with partners who are experienced in their work, can demonstrate impact and advocate on our behalf

• We’ve been realistic about the amount of risk we can undertake• Programme worked as a pilot in order to analyse success

So what does success look like?

• In three years, Mosaic has worked with 100 young people on this programme.

• Our re-offending rate for the programme is approx 40% (saving the taxpayer approx 2.8m)

• Of this figure, roughly two-thirds have accessed training, education or employment

Fresh starts and sustained job opportunities: why Mosaic mentoring?

How we have achieved that impact

• Effective partnerships• Tangible opportunities for fully engaged mentees e.g. employment

programmes and work experience• An engaged and active volunteer network• A no nonsense approach towards clients• Senior and persuasive contacts• Our work is valued• We don’t lose sight of why we do this work

This work presents challenges...

• Provision of robust resettlement services within the prison estate is patchy

• Difficult economy• Employers with closed recruitment practices• Prisons are risk averse and often focused on security at the expense

of effective community engagement• Lack of suitable candidates • Offender resettlement is difficult!

...but every challenge presents an opportunity

• Designing programmes and demonstrating impact opens doors to funding opportunities and partnerships

• Comprehensive work makes you the partner of choice• Deliver local responses to local problems• Involvement in strategic planning, decision-making and funding choices

• The biggest opportunity is the opportunity to change lives

If you would like more information about this, or any of Mosaic’s other programmes, please contact:

Julian Yorke, Programmes Development ManagerMosaic, c/o Business in the Community137 Shepherdess WalkLondon N1 7RQ

T +44 (0) 207 566 8735T: +44 (0) 7718 534 072E: julian.yorke@bitc.org.uk www.mosaicnetwork.co.uk

Registered charity no 297716. Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered in England and Wales 161253