Mentoring schemes shown to improve mental health for care experienced children

New evidence shows mentoring and befriending programmes for care experienced children can improve mental health, reduce offending and help to keep families together.

The research findings come as a result of the most recent Practice Guide commissioned by the Department for Education and produced by Foundations.

Researchers highlighted the value of evidence-based mentoring and befriending programmes for care-experienced children and young people, as well as those at risk of entering care. They say that, too often, these children and young people lack the stable and trusted adult relationships they need to thrive, making it especially important for them to receive evidence-based mentoring and befriending that provides effective support.

“As someone with experience of care, I've witnessed the impact mentoring can have,” said Princess Bestman, Arts and Wellbeing Practitioner, Care Advocate and advisory group member for the Mentoring and Befriending Practice Guide. “It helps to grow genuine, trusting relationships. It provides support, advice and stability during uncertain times. It offers inspiration to try new things, explore new opportunities, and avoid negative influences. Mentoring gave me the motivation to pursue my future goals and helped me feel a stronger sense of belonging.”

The evidence also shows that matching young people with mentors who share similar characteristics – such as gender, ethnicity, family background, and aspirations – leads to greater engagement. Some young people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds reported that having a mentor of a different ethnicity could be a barrier to connection, as they found it harder to relate to them. Many felt more understood and genuinely cared for by mentors from their own cultural background, who could also help them stay connected to their communities.

Ms Bestman continued: “Having been involved in the development of this Practice Guide, I encourage organisations and local leaders to use it to strengthen their offer to care-experienced young people in line with the evidence, to match mentees with mentors who share lived experiences or interests and to equip mentors with the support and skills they need to really make a difference in the lives of children and young people.”

Currently, mentoring and befriending programmes are currently variable and Foundations says these should be strengthened in line with the new evidence.

Mentoring and befriending support can also help local authorities meet their statutory duty to provide Independent Visitors for looked after children, where it is in the child's best interest.

Dr Jo Casebourne, Chief Executive at Foundations, said that too many care-experienced children and young people miss out on trusted, stable relationships.

“As an Independent Visitor myself, I have seen first-hand the additional support that young people in care need and how having an independent adult in their life can help them to reach their full potential.”

“Right now, mentoring and befriending support is inconsistent. We need to change that, using the evidence in this Practice Guide to make sure young people get the support they deserve.”

Researchers found that there is good evidence that mentoring programmes reduce offending and re-offending rates among young people. These programmes were also found to help reduce the risks of unemployment, and keep young people stable in foster care and beyond.

There was also promising evidence of the impact of mentoring programmes in improving reunification of care experienced children with their families as mentoring and befriending increases the success of reunification with birth families and strengthens long-term relationships.

Rasheed Pendry, Director of Children's Social Care in Wandsworth, said it was “good to see how mentoring and befriending programmes can change the lives of care-experienced children and young people.”

“For me, it all comes down to relationships. When we help children build stable, trusting connections, we are supporting their emotional wellbeing, mental health, and family stability. This Guide helps us to make sure every child has that foundation.

“As leader, I'm always looking for ways to strengthen the support we provide. To do that well, I need the best evidence at my fingertips so that every decision I make about services is grounded in what truly works. We should want the very best for care-experienced children.

“This guide is an essential resource for me and for all of us who want to ensure that care-experienced young people have the consistent, meaningful relationships they need to feel safe and thrive.”