Evaluation of the | Reducing Reoffending Change Fund - Research Findings

Background

The RRCF is one of three change funds created by the Scottish Government in 2012 to help drive a decisive shift towards preventative spending. The RRCF has two key aims:

• to provide prolific young male offenders and women offenders with substantial one-to-one support through evidence-based mentoring schemes;
• to promote strong, equal partnership working between third and public sector organisations.

RRCF funding was allocated to six PSPs – strategic partnerships between third sector and public sector organisations – to deliver mentoring schemes for offenders. Each PSP was led by a third sector organisation, designed to give the third sector a primary role within each partnership.

The aim of the independent evaluation was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the extent to which the PSP model delivers effective mentoring services that reduce the risk of reoffending and support reintegration. The lessons learned about mentoring and PSPs will inform the future use of these approaches.