A systematic review of 58 research studies shows that such programmes, which are available patchily across the UK, can even help keep families together long term.
Foundations, the Department for Education-funded what works centre for children and families, has published recommendations for practitioners alongside the findings in a mentoring and befriending practice guide.
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It lists 'strong' evidence for one-to-one mentoring boosting mental health and reducing post-traumatic symptoms for those who have experienced significant harm, especially for children aged nine to 11 years old.
This support can also help local authorities to meet their statutory duty to provide independent visitors (IV) for looked after children, says Foundations. According to charity Barnardos, just 3.3% of these children have access to an IV – a volunteer mentor – in England.
There is also 'good' evidence that mentoring programmes can reduce offending and reoffending rates, including for violent offenders, and promising evidence that these interventions increase the success of reunification with birth families for the long term, particularly for children with adverse childhood experiences.
More than half (52%) of children in care had a criminal conviction by age 24, according to Office for National Statistics data, while around 45% of looked-after children have a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to the National Institute for Health and Care excellence.
In addition to children's services, advice may also be useful for bodies such as schools, NHS trusts and the Youth Justice Board, with corporate parenting responsibilities, including for care leavers, being extended across the public sector under the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill.
Dr Jo Casebourne, chief executive at Foundations, said: “Every child needs trusted, stable relationships to thrive – but too many care-experienced children and young people miss out.
“Right now, mentoring and befriending support is inconsistent. We need to change that.
“The guide shows how positive relationships with adults, friends and family can offer stability, help children overcome adversity and trauma, and keep families safely together.
“Crucially, this means listening to care-experienced children and young people and shaping support around their views.
“We’re calling on local partners, funders and providers to use this evidence to put in place support that works, and to make sure every child who needs it can access it.”
The evaluation, carried out by Liverpool John Moores University and Foundations, looked at evidence on interventions from the UK and internationally.
It finds successful mentoring and befriending relationships are built on mutual respect, listening, and mentor availability, where children form relationships with trusted adults to boost wellbeing and achieve goals.
Its authors say that allowing young people to be involved in the process of finding a mentor, as matching them with mentors from similar backgrounds and ethnicities, makes the relationships more successful. Children perceive volunteer mentors as more independent from statutory services, which allows them to be more open with them, the report says.
This practice guide relates to outcome four of the Children’s Social Care National Framework: that children in care and care leavers have stable, loving homes.
