Individual case study - Leeds YOS

Leeds Youth Offending Mentoring Scheme provides one to one support for young people within the criminal justice system. It is a voluntary scheme, which aims to assist in enabling young people to make a positive contribution into society. Targets are set with young people for young people to work towards. Leeds YOS has the Investors in Volunteers standard, and provides comprehensive training throughout the year for all volunteers.

The mentor, Eve, was matched with her mentee, Gemma, to assist her with the transition to independent living and also to offer support with a range of personal issues. Initially Gemma was reluctant to have a mentor: “I didn’t want a mentor at first; I refused about twice because I was happy with my support worker, so I didn’t want anyone else." 

She admits that things were difficult for her prior to having a mentor: “I was a mess at first when I met Eve. I was drinking and doing drugs and partying but now I am a totally different person, I’ve grown up and have my own flat, dog and everything."

In the words of her mentor: “Gemma had many personal problems, such as her chaotic drug and alcohol use, negative impact from friends, peer pressure, lack of accommodation and direction in life, which were all difficult aspects of her life that needed tackling. She wanted to change which was half the battle as all I had to do was support and help her.”

According to Gemma, the mentoring relationship has been instrumental in assisting her to make significant changes to her lifestyle: “I have stopped drinking, I hardly ever go out clubbing anymore, have not been in trouble with the law for a year and I’m dead chuffed about that. I have my own flat; it’s all decorated, which Eve helped me do. Most things I have now, Eve helped me to get or do, like coming off drugs or stopping drinking, and she gives me support to do things like going to the doctors. I live a quiet life now really, Eve is a part of that and helped me to get away from people who were bad to be around. Now I see my family more and not people who are always in trouble.”

She continues: “Everything has changed… I have grown up so much since I met Eve, I am not as loud and mouthy, I know how to do stuff now that I didn’t before, I have moved house near my mum in my own flat and I don’t get in to trouble anymore, it's great, living a normal life like everyone else."

The Scheme Co-ordinator believes that one of the most important things the pair has achieved is “the budgeting work that has been undertaken between young person and mentor, as the young person really struggles with managing money”.  Gemma explains: “She (Eve) has helped me to get a crisis loan, all sorts of claims and takes me shopping for food and clothes."

Eve feels that she has also benefited from having a mentee: “I have developed endless, transferable skills, such as better people skills, knowledge of the criminal justice system, external agencies and some decorating skills!  I have personally learnt to be more understanding, patient and empathetic.”

She is also understandably proud of her mentee: “I am extremely proud of Gemma’s progress and all that she has achieved; she has grown emotionally and developed into a competent, helpful, kind, polite, independent, young woman.”

Name - Leeds Youth Offending Service
Project type – Mentoring
Location – Leeds
Phone – 0113 2145300
Project Co-ordinator – Karol Thornton