Evaluation of the Reducing Re-offending Change Fund

This document describes an evaluation of the Reducing Reoffending Change Fund (RRCF), a Scottish Government initiative launched in 2012 to support preventative spending through mentoring schemes for young offenders and to foster collaboration between third and public sector organizations. The evaluation of the Public Social Partnership (PSP) model, which funded six strategic partnerships, aimed to determine the effectiveness of mentoring in reducing reoffending. Methodologically, the evaluation involved data analysis, interviews, and stakeholder surveys. Findings indicated that while resources were allocated as intended, service establishment was slower than expected. Mentoring was most effective when lasting at least six months and when it fostered a strong one-to-one relationship. Positive outcomes included improved attitudes, motivation, problem-solving, and emotional management, though external factors like family issues and substance abuse required additional support. The PSP model showed success in short to medium-term outcomes, but its sustainability and generalizability were uncertain. The evaluation also discussed the importance of mentor training, the challenges of service design, and the need for clear accountability within partnerships. The document concludes that similar results might be achievable with different funding and working models, and it provides information on accessing the research data and copyright notice. **This summary was written by an AI model and therefore should not be considered a definitive summary of the report. If you are aware of inaccuracies, please email evaluation.registry@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.**

Description

• Lead department: The Scottish Government (The Scottish Government)
• Evaluation stage: A complete evaluation report
• Other departments: No other departments listed
• Evaluation types: Process evaluation
• Process methods: Individual interviews; Output or performance modelling; Surveys and polling
• Grant information: This intervention is not distributing funding via a grant
• Government Major Project information: This intervention is not a major project
• Policies: No policies provided

Event Dates

• Event Name: Publication of final results
• Event date: February 2016

Evaluation Costs

• Cost: Not provided

Evaluation sharing

• Link(s) to published report(s): Yes
• Links to evaluation plans: No link provided
• Findings: Not provided
• Permission to share confirmed: Yes