How Mentor inspires young people to make the most of their lives, and supports parents, teachers and communities to help them.

1. Inspiring
young
people

2. “prevention
is better
than cure”
A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and
concrete saying, popularly known and repeated,
that expresses a truth based on common sense or
the practical experience of humanity.

3. Early Childhood Adulthood
LevelofProblemBehaviors
Source: PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Age 21, cost per person
already = £91 - £121k
Problem behaviours: the earlier we act, the more
effective and the less it costs.

4. Championing evidence based prevention

5. Smoking
Crime and anti-
social behaviour
Disengagement from
school
Sexual
health
Drug useDrinkingDrinking alcohol is linked to
risky sexual behaviour
Dislike of school and
missing school are also
strongly linked to risk of
young motherhood
Disengagement from school is linked to
involvement in crime and anti-social
behaviour
Drinking regularly smoking and
taking illegal drugs are linked to
involvement in anti-social
behaviour and crime.Young people who drink
alcohol are more likely to
skip school and vice-versa
Young people’s risky behaviours are interlinked
Mentor: Thinking Prevention series www.mentoruk.org.uk/publichealth

6. We need to change our perspective
Research proves
• Cautionary stories
• Information
• Focus on harm or fear
• Harsh or inconsistent
punishment
Don’t work

7. Showing the ‘reality’ of the
criminal justice system to young
people actually increased the
risk of juvenile crime.
For each child delivered to (£55),
Scared Straight costs £14,268 to
reverse the harm.
Scared Straight and Other Juvenile Awareness Programs for Preventing Juvenile Delinquency: A Systematic Review of the Randomized Experimental Evidence, The ANNALS of
the American Academy of Political and Social Science September 2003 vol. 589 no. 1 41-62

8. Putting what works into practice

9. The Good Behaviour Game
First UK
randomised
controlled trial of
programme that
improves children’s
life chances

10. Specialised
support for
parents and carers

11. Learning from
young people

12. Working with
local and
community
groups

13. Pioneering work
to reduce young
offenders’
reoffending

14. Free resources &
training for schools

15. Working with
European partners

16. Creating
positive
change with
young people