Is a dedicated case management/mentoring programme delivered with children and young people involved in (or at risk of involvement in) youth violence and offending behaviours, focused on understanding and managing emotions, an effective approach to reducing children and young people’s future engagement in youth violence and offending behaviours compared to light-touch young person-led wellbeing and safety support?

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The Cerridwen project is a volunteer-based program where each young person is paired with a case manager or mentor. This program uses methods from cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of therapy that helps people change their thinking and behavior patterns. The project will take place in Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, and Swansea in South Wales. It was created in response to research that found:

- There has been an increase in youth violence incidents in England and Wales over the past year (Cardiff University News, 2023 and Welsh Government, 2022).
- More young people in Wales are being referred to Youth Offending Services for violent crimes (Morgan, 2022).

The Cerridwen model is based on evidence showing that:
a) Encouraging young people to develop empathy (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others) can help prevent future offenses (Bateman and Cook, 2021).
b) Mentoring and key worker programs have been shown to improve factors linked to violence, such as substance abuse, behavior problems, school performance, social connections, emotional health, and self-esteem (Gaffney, Jolliffe, and White, 2022).
c) Having strong social networks, including relationships with trusted adults, can reduce the risk of offending (Gaffney, Jolliffe, and White, 2022).
d) Programs tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of young people are more likely to be successful in keeping them engaged and reducing reoffending rates (Christensen, Hagler, and Stams et al., 2020).
e) Cognitive behavioral approaches and mentoring can be effective in reducing reoffending (Adler et al., 2016).
f) Voluntary participation that considers individual interests and uses a trauma-informed approach (understanding and considering past trauma in the person's life) leads to better engagement with services than mandatory interventions (National Lottery Community Fund, 2018).

There is strong justification for conducting a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) to test the effectiveness of the Cerridwen program. An internal pilot trial and an evaluation of how the program is implemented and its processes are also planned. Initial evidence from a qualitative evaluation (which involves detailed interviews and observations) by Swansea University, which has been running since 2015 in Cardiff, suggests that Cerridwen could be useful for various organizations and practitioners in supporting young people who show violent behaviors (Morgan, 2022). This evaluation included positive feedback from young people and partners, suggesting that the project can reduce the severity and frequency of violence among youth. A more rigorous evaluation using an RCT will strengthen its evidence base.

There is currently limited strong evidence in the UK about what works to reduce offending among young people, especially for those aged 10-17 at risk of crime (Ross et al., 2011). Some evidence suggests that mentoring programs may help young people avoid crime, but more research is needed (Jolliffe and Farrington, 2008). While the Youth Endowment Fund Toolkit indicates moderately strong evidence for mentoring in general, this does not specifically focus on young people already involved in crime or violence. An efficacy RCT of Cerridwen will contribute valuable knowledge about what works to reduce offending in this group.

Who can participate?
Young people aged 10-17 years old are eligible to participate in the Cerridwen project. This includes those who exhibit or are at risk of exhibiting violent behaviors, as evidenced by referral partners indicating one or more of the following behaviors: displaying physical and verbal aggression, committing violent acts (against property, themselves, or others), or using violent/aggressive communication strategies. Participants must reside in Cardiff, Swansea, or Merthyr Tydfil. Additionally, they must voluntarily engage with and complete Cerridwen, as demonstrated by consenting to referral and confirming their willingness to participate after receiving a detailed explanation of the project during an initial meeting.

What does the study involve?
The Efficacy Trial is a two-arm, parallel randomised control trial (RCT). All young people referred into the project, who meet the eligibility criteria and who consent to be part of the evaluation complete a baseline questionnaire before being allocated at random to a treatment or control group on a 1:1 basis.

Young people who are allocated to the treatment group will be paired with a Cerridwen case manager. They will receive an engagement and assessment planning meeting and two 8-week blocks of two to three-hour, one-to-one case management sessions (with a one-week review period in between). At exit from the project (after an average of 5 months) young people complete a Time 2 (T2) questionnaire.

Young people who are allocated to the control group will receive light-touch, structured signposting and safeguarding support, provided by MAC. This support will be referred to as ‘safety and wellbeing support’. This will involve young people in the control group being offered a maximum of eight one-to-one one-hour check-in meetings with one MAC case manager, which will take place over the same five-month period as the Cerridwen programme.

The first four meetings will take place weekly and the final four will take place monthly. Young people will complete baseline measures prior to randomisation and attending the first meeting in the control group pathway.
The first meeting after obtaining consent, baseline questionnaire completion and randomisation (Session 1) will involve an assessment of needs and risks, which will identify immediate safeguarding concerns and determine the activity and focus of the remaining meetings.
As the sessions offered are determined by individual assessments with young people, the content will vary depending on severity and urgency of any identified risks. Because all young people have been referred to Cerridwen due to a concern around violence and/or offending behaviour, MAC will provide basic information around the law, the consequences of a criminal record, and information on how to keep safe in Session 2. Sessions 3-7 will be delivered if required, and may include:
• Referral to/information sharing with Children’s Services in relation to immediate safeguarding concerns.
• Referral into other service to meet other identified support needs, e.g. Education and Employment.
• Direct support around other identified support needs e.g. assistance to engage with positive activities.
• Informal check-ins about current wellbeing and goal setting.

The last meeting (at five months) will include completing the T2 outcome measures and any onward referrals where appropriate.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The possible benefit for participants is receiving support which improves their outcomes related to involvement in serious youth violence or offending.

Risks include:
1. Participants could be triggered or upset by topics in questionnaires. Mitigations against this include (a) MAC practitioners receive training in how to support participants who may be affected in this way and direct them to further safeguarding or other appropriate support services (e.g. Mental Health services) and (b) Practitioners are trained youth workers who have extensive experience of supporting vulnerable young people, and they receive additional training from the experienced research team before tools are rolled out.
2. Young people in the control group might not receive the support needed which could lead to adverse consequences. The mitigation is they will be offered a maximum of eight one-to-one one-hour check-in meetings with a MAC case manager, during which they will be safeguarded and may also be signposted to “business as usual” services depending on ongoing identified risks and needs.

Where is the study run from?
Cerridwen is being delivered by Media Academy Cymru (MAC), located in Cardiff, Wales. The evaluation team is Cordis Bright, based in London, England.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2024 to April 2026

Who is funding the study?
The Youth Endowment Fund (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Matt Irani, Principal Investigator and Project Director. Principal Consultant at Cordis Bright. mattirani@cordisbright.co.uk

Contact information

Study information

Eligibility

Locations

Countries of recruitment

• United Kingdom
• Wales

Study participating centre

Sponsor information

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Results and Publications

Study outputs

Additional files

45506 PIS Cerridwen young person info sheet and consent form (evaluation) final (accessible).pdf

young person info sheet and consent form (evaluation)

45506 PIS Cerridwen parent carer info sheet and consent form (evaluation) .pdf

parent carer info sheet and consent form (evaluation)

Editorial Notes

20/02/2025: Protocol uploaded, contact details updated.
21/05/2024: Trial's existence confirmed by Royal Holloway, University of London Research Ethics Committee.