New mentorship project in Nottinghamshire is helping young people turn their lives around

The county's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has funded the ‘U Turn' custody intervention scheme over the next 21 months to support young people aged 16 to 26 to make a fresh start.

The project, delivered by The Inspire and Achieve Foundation, a Nottinghamshire charity, sees two full-time mentors operating out of both Nottingham's Bridewell and Mansfield's custody suites. The mentors support young people who have been arrested, help them overcome their barriers, and put them on the path to a new life.

The mentors, who have lived experience of the problems facing the young people, encourage participants to take part in positive diversionary activities such as going to the gym, making new friends, going on training courses, self-reflecting and chatting while walking, or action planning over a coffee.

Mentors are able to build up a rapport, establish trust, and provide much needed advice and support on a range of issues such as housing, budgeting, substance misuse, mental health, healthy relationships, employment options and education.

The scheme launched in January and is already supporting 15 young people including a gang member who, as a result of the U-Turn programme, progressed into formal education within two weeks of the intervention starting.

Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner and chairman of the VRU's board, said: "This project is still in its infancy but already we are seeing astonishing results with young people beginning to believe in themselves and their capabilities and considering what their life could look like without crime.

"The absence of positive role models plays such a huge factor in many of these young people's lives but it is never too late to intervene and help change the way they view the world and themselves. The success in this project lies in having credible, trusted mentors who have been in the shoes of these young people and have come out the other side.

"As specialist partners, the VRU team is delighted to bring this model to Nottinghamshire.”