An interim report on the evaluation of the Koestler Trust's mentoring scheme. The evaluation concerns both the implementation and effectiveness of the mentoring scheme, and employs both qualitative and quantitative methods, including direct observation of mentoring sessions and hour-long, face-to-face interviews with both mentors and mentees.

The implementation part of the research focuses on the meaning of the scheme for mentees, their perceptions as to the quality of its delivery, and any procedural obstacles that have been encountered. The effectiveness part of the research focuses on whether, and the extent to which, the mentoring scheme is delivering its intended outcomes.

The Mentoring Scheme aims to innovate a model of arts input, shaped to the needs of individual offenders, that empowers them through the transition from prison to community. Its project objectives are:

To develop a high-quality, replicable model of arts mentoring for offenders.

To create a pool of professionals from different arts fields trained and experienced in supporting individual offenders.

To engage a reasonably representative sample of offenders in the arts mentoring.

To ensure that the arts mentoring addresses the transition from prison to community.

To ensure that the offenders’ needs are met holistically by integrating the arts mentoring with other resettlement services.

To focus the mentoring on continued participation in the arts, while also supporting wider benefits. To commission a thorough independent evaluation of the project pilot which includes the views of users.

To disseminate the findings to contribute to improved policy and practice.

Mentees report that their emotional well-being (e.g., their self-esteem) and their achievement motivation is rising thanks to their participation in the scheme. This is also confirmed in interviews with mentors and in their reports to the Koestler Trust.