Keeping Young People Away from Crime

Friday June 21 2013

A mentoring programme which helps keeps young people away from crime is being rolled out across Scotland.

Plusone mentoring, developed by YMCA Scotland, pairs people aged 8-14 with volunteer mentors who try to divert them away from lifestyles that lead to offending.

Following a successful two-year pilot, the YMCA has obtained lottery funding to  replicate the programme across the country.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill is the keynote speaker at a national launch today (Friday). He said: “The Plusone mentoring programme has already helped divert young people away from crime, so it’s good to see that successful project being rolled out across the country to benefit more young people.

“From the Plusone mentoring pilot we know that 86% of young people had significantly improved their behaviour and changed their attitude toward offending and 14 out of 15 young people interviewed for the project gave Plusone mentoring a score of at least 8 out of 10 when asked to mark their experience.“

The pilot saw over 60 young people matched with mentors in the areas of Bellshill, Perth and Kinross and Kirkcaldy. In the next four years the programme will reach a further 750 people across Scotland.

Peter Crory, the National General Secretary of YMCA Scotland, said: “The best way to help someone stay out of trouble is to give them a reason not to get into trouble in the first place. But for some young people finding that reason can be difficult.

“Mentoring can provide them with someone who can listen to them and help guide them on the way to finding that reason, that purpose.

“In terms of diverting young people away from lifestyles that can lead to offending mentoring is invaluable, as not only does it reduce offending, it helps build the confidence and wellbeing of Scotland’s next generation.”

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