In Practice: Resettlement and Aftercare programme

Mission: To support young offenders on issues such as housing and education

Funding: 100,000 a year from the Youth Justice Board

Brent Council's scheme recruits and trains volunteer mentors to help young offenders in areas such as housing, education, mental health and drug problems. Since the scheme launched in April 2005, the Resettlement and Aftercare Provision (RAP) programme has recruited 30 volunteers to mentor young offenders aged 14 to 18.

The council advertises for volunteers in newspapers, on buses and through leaflets. The potential mentors are then signed up to attend an in-house training course. The training enables the volunteers to help young offenders recognise their strengths and develop their individual identity, skills, knowledge and talents. Mentors are also taught how to deal with offending behaviour, and are given the chance to meet other mentors.