M&M Evaluation 2010 Housing Justice’s pilot mentoring and befriending project

Project Aim …To test and develop the contribution that formal befriending schemes can make to ending rough sleeping by supporting current and former rough sleepers…

Project Outcomes To improve clients’ confidence, motivation, social networks, mental well-being and use of time To increase the skills of volunteers to become befrienders and mentors To encourage the development of further volunteering and befriending schemes To continuously improve the quality of the scheme

Method 12 month project Jan - Dec 2010 worked with 4 night shelters Kingston, Islington, Barnet, Lambeth & Southwark 93 people attended mentoring trainings

Method clients choose if they want a mentor (goal focus) or befriender (social) assessment and goal setting using Outcomes Star mentors and mentees meet for 1-2 hours/ week for 6 months meeting in a public place

Support introductory 3-way meeting coordinator calls both parties to check in group supervision for mentors (twice in 6 months) midway 3-way meeting closing meeting closing tea party for all mentors and mentees

Resource pack & forum resource pack written for night shelters interested in starting their own mentoring or befriending project forum for agencies interested or already running mentoring or befriending with homeless

Mentors & Mentees… 17 successful relationships - lasted 6 mths 5 relationships didn’t work out referrals from shelters and agencies living in private rented accommodation, supported housing, sheltered housing or homeless

M&M clients age: 22 – 64 2 female / 15 male African 7 British 7 E. European 2 Bangladeshi 1

Evaluation method A pre and post Outcome Star carried out on 14 clients Semi structured interview conducted on 14 clients and on 18 volunteers

Mentee expectations help finding work (paid or voluntary) increase confidence increase social network English practice face up to underlying addiction

Baseline data Areas weakest at project outset: emotional & mental health meaningful use of time social networks managing money

Areas of greatest improvement meaningful use of time - up 2 pts emotional and mental health - up 1.5 pts social network and relationships - up 1pt

Areas of greatest improvement measured by interview with mentees

Areas of no or little change Living skills Substance use Managing tenancy Physical health Offending

Practical changes 3 mentees in Ready to Work Plact. 2 in work 1 mentee in work through A4E 2 mentees found work independently 1 applied to Legacy Programme for leave to remain

Practical changes – ctd… 1 resumed creative writing 1 linked into elderly social club 1 opened bank account 2 dealing with alcohol addiction

Cost £36,000direct project costs £2,100per relationship £ k cost per year of a homelessness episode

Recommendations funding beyond 1 year cycle to allow for two cycles of mentoring per year increased capacity building for shelters and other agencies to start their own M&B project

Recommendations – ctd… only accept clients with low support needs continue learning through M&M /pilot with day centres