Nacro annual review

somewhere to stay after he was released. Will nowlives at a young people’s hostel on the South Coast.He has kept up his painting and is looking to thefuture: ‘I want to be an art teacher,’ he says.Mentoring is about giving young offenders asteadying influence in their lives – something manyof them have never had before. John has beenimpressed by the number of people who want toplay this role, from undergraduates looking forexperience in their chosen field to older peoplewho want to give something back. He is looking formentors who are flexible, open-minded, and noteasily shocked. The prisoners, for their part,appreciate a mentor who is genuinely interested intheir wellbeing. Rob, another young prisonerinvolved with Milestones, says the mentors careabout people because ‘it’s not just a job to them’.Release from prison is crunch time for many youngoffenders, with practical problems like findingsomewhere to stay and emotional hurdles such asseeing their families. They must also decide howthey will conduct themselves. ‘The acid test is whatthey do on the first Saturday night,’ says John. ‘Willthey be out of it with a glass in their hand and fiveor six pints of lager already inside them, waiting forit to kick off outside the night club? Or will they stayat home and watch a film?’ Mentors are notchaperones, but they can help people stay away fromsituations where they might get back into trouble.John spends most of his working life among youngpeople who have offended, and he sees far more tothem than their crimes: ‘Lads this age keep you onyour toes. They are very honest in their way, andfunny people to be around. They don’t respond topeople who wag their fingers or talk down to them,because they’ve seen it all before. But if you takethe trouble to get to know them, you see theirvulnerability. They are willing to ask for help ifthey think you’re genuine. They’re desperate tomake amends. It’s just a matter of helping them todo that.‘Mentors can do so much. For example, a lot ofthese lads don’t read and write very well, so eventhough they might like to do a bricklaying course atcollege, they can’t face doing the application form.They think, “I’ll look like an idiot because I can’tspell” and they bottle out. They end up flippingburgers because they don’t like filling out forms.I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sat withlads helping them with applications. It’s only fearthat holds them back. A mentor can get them pastthat by saying: “You can do this. Let’s give it acrack. If there are obstacles I’ll help you over them.”It’s so simple – just basic humanity, really.’ 21