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Millions Towards Offender Mentoring Services

Four mentoring services targeted at reducing reoffending will share £3.4 million in funding, announced Justice Secretary, Michael Matheson.

These import services, delivered by third sector organisations across Scotland, provide practical, flexible one-to-one mentoring to individuals leaving prison.

Only four schemes will receive funding; Shine, New Routes, Moving On and Tayside Council on Alcohol (TCA). Of the four scheme New Routes and Moving On works to support young men, while Shine is a national service for women leaving prison, on remand, or struggling to complete community sentences. TCA is the only service being funded which support both men and women.

Mr Matheson, said: "One-to-one mentoring has been shown to turn people away from crime by helping them address practical or personal problems, such as relationship issues, accessing housing or healthcare, or finding training or work. Supporting people to overcome these challenges can stop them offending in the future."

 The Reducing Reoffending Change Fund was established by Scottish Government in 2012, in partnership with Scottish Prison Service and Robertson Trust. The Scottish Government provided £15.5 million between 2012-2017 towards the initiative.

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