Randomized Control Trial of Remedi Restorative Mentors

This project will conduct an initial pilot study (year 1), followed by a two year efficacy trial, to measure the consistency of delivery of the rintervention and to find out whether the intervention meets the needs of children and young people and reduces their contact with the criminal justice system.

The Remedi intervention is a restorative mentoring programme for children and young people (CYP) to be used as a means of diversion from the criminal justice system (CJS).  Remedi is a third sector organisation primarily providing restorative justice (RJ) services to adults and CYP across the UK. This includes community and custodial settings and working with individuals as well as families. 

The Restorative Mentoring (RM) project provided by Remedi aims to deal with significant levels of violent behaviours and violent crime committed by CYP in the Greater Manchester area. In particular, the intervention focuses on CYP aged 10-17 who have displayed violent behaviours and/or have committed a violent offence but who are not subject to an order higher than an out of court disposal. These CYP will be referred to Remedi via the police and youth justice services. Remedi reports that these CYP frequently have low levels of awareness / understanding / empathic awareness regarding the impact of their behaviours, have problematic issues within their familial setting and face varying levels of challenges regarding their mental and/or emotional health. In the experience of Remedi, if unsupported these behaviours often result in greater degrees of violence/criminality.

The RM project consists of three components which will provide intensive one to one support for children and young people. All young people in the intervention group will receive the mentoring component but what, if any, other component they receive will be determined by an initial needs assessment. The three components are:

  1. Mentoring: ‘Action Plan’ agreed with young person with Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time bound (SMART) goals and expectations established, one to one support with lower-level mental health needs (confidence building etc). This element will last for around 12 weeks, based on 3-4 sessions per week.
  2. Restorative Justice (RJ): Provision of full Restorative Justice intervention with harmed individuals identified (if desired by harmed/victim). RJ will be offered and mentioned during the mentoring work to give many opportunities to take part – using Remedi’s empathic thinking work during the mentoring.
  3. Restorative based family work: where the referring professional, the CYP or the Remedi mentor identifies that familial support is required this will be offered with the aim to address conflicts/improve communication and support etc. The support will be based on a family plan including family circle work, Remedi’s ‘Together Families’ programme and work towards a family agreement/exit plan. 

CYP in the control group will receive Restorative Choices (RC) training, a short mentoring scheme also provided by Remedi. This tends to consist of four sessions usually lasting 1-2 hours (depending on the attention abilities of participants). The sessions take place over a period dictated by the availability of the CYP; they can all take place during a week or at most over four weeks. 

Funder: The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) 

Timeframe: December 2021 - October 2025

Objective and outcomes

The overarching objective of the first year of the study is to conduct an initial pilot randomised control study, defining outcomes and a full evaluation method that will assess the parameters for conducting an efficacy evaluation (in years 2 and 3).

This pilot will be used to assess whether operational progression criteria have been met and if so, to develop a full protocol for an appropriately powered efficacy study.  The pilot will measure the consistency of delivery and whether staff and CYP believe the intervention meets the needs of CYP and is appropriate. 

Project Team

People associated with the project: 

  • Professor Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay (PI), 
  • Dr Emily Evans (RF),
  • Dr Juste Abramovaite (RF),
  • Professor Anindya Banerjee,
  • Dr Ioannis Karavias,
  • Dr Livia Menezes,
  • Professor Julie Taylor, 
  • Dr Shola Apena Rogers, 
  • Professor Eddie Kane (University of Nottingham)  

Project Advisors:

  • Dr Kausik Chaudhuri (University of Leeds)
  • Dr James Martin
  • Professor Matthew Cole
  • Lorraine Khan (external)
  • Professor Paul Montgomery
  • Dr Joht Singh Chandan 

Contact details