The Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) have published the London Probation Trust (LPT) Peer Mentoring Evaluation.


The Policy Evaluation and Research Unit (PERU) have published the London Probation Trust (LPT) Peer Mentoring Evaluation.

London Probation Trust (LPT), in their aim to reduce reoffending and provide a more holistic service for offenders, decided to work in partnership with third sector organisations to provide mentoring services for offenders in London to improve their rehabilitation prospects. The two strands of work that are evaluated in this project are:

  • To develop a peer mentoring service for 100 young offenders aged 18-25 who were on the Intensive Alternative to Custody order. Mentoring was offered alongside offender management to encourage motivation and support compliance
  • To develop a mentoring service for women based heavily around the ‘personalisation’ agenda to reduce the risk of re-offending. This would include an ‘enabling fund’ to allow women and their mentors to address the women’s personal needs.

Service providers were commissioned to undertake the two mentoring services, working collaboratively to achieve two over-arching outcomes as defined by LPT:

  • Reduced re-offending rates
  • Improved attendance/compliance by offenders at supervision appointments/programmes

Additional outcomes were:

  • Improved offender manager and sentencer understanding of the support that can be provided to offenders through mentoring
  • Increased positive life outcomes through practical and motivational support.
  • Reduced social exclusion of offenders.
  • Increased access to community interventions for offenders.
  • In the case of peer mentoring, peer mentors develop personally and socially through supporting others to develop, keeping their own focus on rehabilitation and boosting their self-esteem and confidence.
  • Develop integrated partnership working with the third sector.

Catch22 was appointed through a competitive bidding process to deliver the mentoring services with St Giles Trust as its subcontractor.

The Interim evaluation report can be viewed here

Posted by


Professor Chris Fox

Director of PERU