Mentoring and Young People A literature review

This literature review was undertaken in response to the Beattie report, ‘Implementing inclusiveness: realising potential’. The report was commissioned by The Advisory Committee on Post-School Education and Training of Young People with Special Needs in April 1998 and examines the range of needs among young people who require additional support to participate in post-school education or training in Scotland. This client group is defined as young people aged 16-24 years and most at risk of social exclusion due to a range of factors such as physical disabilities, mental health problems, learning difficulties or disabilities, low educational attainment, and homelessness. The literature review explores the use of mentors in supporting these young people in their transition to post-school education, training, and employment. It covers published literature from the UK and the US from 1995 onwards. Some other literature in the form of conference papers and internet sources has been included where relevant. The review is not comprehensive but concentrates on the core area of mentoring with young people, occasionally drawing on work in related areas when appropriate. Key questions addressed by the review are: What is a mentor/mentoring? What is the evidence of positive outcomes for young people? What works? What doesn’t work? Is there a case for regulation? What are the views of mentees? What are the view of mentors? What are the views of commissioning bodies and/or employers? As part of the specification of the review, work by Carol Fitzgibbon of Durham University that examines the impact of identifying ‘underaspiring’ pupils is included in Appendix A. Appendix B outlines the search strategies used to identify the literature.