The Definition of Mentoring:

A one2one, non-judgemental relationship in which an individual supports and encourage another. This is typically developed at a time of transition in the young persons life, and lasts for a significant and sustained period of time.

Mentoring amongst children and young people is fast becoming recognised worldwide as a highly effective human resource development process. Mentoring is possibly the most powerful developmental process that children and young people can experience, and when it works it develops two for the price of one, the children and young people and the mentor.

The concept of mentoring has received substantial recognition as viable and approach to effectively promote behavioural change in vulnerable groups. In reality, the implementation and more importantly, the sustaining of such projects have not been without challenges and so many have not been able to achieve a sustainable level of quality and effective impact. This may explain why there are so few live and effective Mentoring Projects currently in operation

Young people by virtue of their involvement in gangs are identifying a lack of ability to recognise a positive social relationship and the value of good sustainable friends and friendships.

By the engagement of a RAP Mentor we are providing a substantial relationship which could set the benchmark against which the young person will measure future supportive relationships and friendships. Incorporated in this approach is the vital theme of opening the mind and developing the skills of thinking matters through before making decisions. Particularly those which have consequences for others, teaching the young people that responsibilities are equally as important as rights.

Our reputation and good name precedes us

R.A.P Mentors (TM) is a division of R.A.P Academy (TM)
We are a well-established and highly experienced organization, We have been in operation for the past 10 years specializing in work with young people that are at risk of and involved in serious gang based violence, and help to re-engage disaffected young people on the margins of their communities to develop a place for themselves within their communities and overall society. There is a long-standing relationship with many key agencies including the YOT, YISP, PRU's, SNT. NHS. These agencies are the key sources of referrals. Our programmes have had significant national and international impact with its innovative and dynamic programmes for young people, especially those who are hard to reach and hard to work with.

We received personal invitations from the Prime Ministers Office of Grenada to run Programmes for clients associated with the country's equivalent of the YOT.

We have received both written and verbal accolades and awards for our consistent positive impact and high levels of engagement with hard to work with youth. For example, Channel 5 awarded for Most Radical Approach to working with Young People, and our Prison documentary "First Edition" was the first of its kind and received the LWT Award for Best Factual Programme.

In 2006 we proudly received Black Business Award for Social Enterprise. Most recently the Croydon Advertiser, the Voice News paper and the South London Press showcased and wrote an outstanding review of our Programme, we interpret this as confirmation that tour reputation of our powerful work is now becoming widespread.

Our Structure is made Up of

RAP mentors and enhanced by Peer RAP Mentors that work alongside the RAP Mentors.

The programme is split into two parts, Phase1 and Phase2.

Phase1

Maximum Support

Phase2

Minimum support

The RAP Mentoring Program works with a minimum 40 hard

to work with young people in a 12-month period.

Client group

• Young people between the ages of 11 – 18 years
• Young people who can be violent or carry weapons
• Young people involved in gangs and some degree of offending
• Young people with behavioral difficulties
• Young people at risk of exclusion/excluded from mainstream education
• Young people NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training).
• Young People from BAME communities

The RAP Mentors Program incorporates 7 core elements:

Each young person is matched according to either area

of career choice/interest, preferred skill development or ethnic

background. The program also benefits from the input of

the local police, and their role is to support the RAP Mentoring

Program and help towards bridging the gap between young people and the police.

What is a RAP Mentor defined

A more skilled or more experienced person who serves as a role model to teach, encourage, and counsel a less skilled or less experienced person, in this case children and young people, for the purpose of promoting the young person professional and personal development. RAP Mentors will help to promote the health and well being of children and young people to reduce the damage that offending and/or gang membership can do to their lives. RAP Mentors aim to support the effective use of resources (human, financial and intellectual) to achieve identified goals; Working in partnership with the young person in order to identify and assess their needs and offer information, advice, support and guidance where necessary; to help them to face challenges that may affect their capacity to take part in learning and work opportunities and successfully reach their identified goals.

Many of the RAP Mentors have experienced first hand the pressures these young people face and as successful over comers, they themselves are now high achievers with specialists insight into the type of support and guidance needed to see this client group through the interwoven pressures of youth culture.

Each RAP Mentor will have been specifically trained to recognise and understand the types of life experiences which may have contributed to the attitudes and behaviors presented by those harder to reach & engage young offenders. They will have particular skills and understanding to be able to develop positive relationships with these young people and to be able to serve as a positive role model. RAP Mentors have become service leaders with specific expertise on:

• Facilitation of cross borough communication with young people living within the 5BA postcodes - Corydon, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark
• Conflict Resolution - breaking down the rivalry, hostility and fear surrounding area postcodes and no go zones
• Developing dynamic approaches to engage with youth involved or at risk of gang based violence

The efforts of the mentor will concentrate on engaging and working with the young person in order to guide, encourage, and counsel, diverting them away from repeated offending.

RAP Mentors Approved Provider Standard (APS)

RAP Mentors is currently working towards Approved Provider Standard (APS) APS is a national benchmark for organisations providing Mentoring. Supported by the Home office Active Communities Directorate and Department for education and skills, it aims to provide programmes with a badge of competence and safe practice in mentoring.

APS is a national benchmark for organisations providing one-to-one, volunteer mentoring. It is a national award supported by the Cabinet Office and Department for Education and Skills and aims to provide programs with a badge of competence and safe practice in mentoring.

APS aims to ensure the consistency and quality of mentoring programmes by focusing on the key management and operational areas of the programme including programme aims and management structure, procedures for identification and referral of clients, recruitment, selection and training of volunteers, monitoring of relationships and programme evaluation.

Benefits of achieving APS

Recognition for good practice

Entry onto a database of approved providers

APS is an accepted benchmark by government departments and other funding bodies

Increase public confidence in RAP Mentors and mentoring programmes

Helps promote our programme to potential clients and volunteers

Provides a ‘health check’ of your program.