Early intervention mediation in educational settings

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The context

UK homelessness research suggests the earlier in life a person becomes homeless, usually through a relationship breakdown at home, the more likely they are to be repeatedly homeless as an adult. Though homelessness in under 25s has declined year on year in Scotland, both numerically and as a proportion of all homelessness compared to the general population, homeless young people remain over-represented.

During the pandemic, the number of people asked to leave the family home rose to the highest level in a decade, whilst other forms of homelessness decreased. The pandemic has also had a severe impact on existing and exacerbating factors in youth homelessness - especially work, welfare and mental health. So services focused on mending relationships have never been more vital. Those which intervene as early as possible, like the Bridge’s talk2sort mediation for 11-19 year olds, can be particularly effective.

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The intervention

The Bridge (East Midlands) has been delivering the talk2sort service for nearly 20 years, and currently works with young people and their families across the East Midlands area. The aim of the service is to engage young people and families before a crisis, such as homelessness, occurs. As such, talk2sort offers well-advertised drop ins and appointments at schools and colleges, with people able to attend sessions in the evening and/or different locations as suits. talk2sort can also work with one person only, if only one person in a conflictual relationship wants to engage.

talk2sort focuses on opening communication, mending relationships, supporting young people and families to identify and explore solutions, improving mental health or emotional wellbeing and reducing harms, such as substance use or antisocial behaviour. Referrals can come direct from young people or families, through word of mouth, or from statutory or voluntary agencies, including education, children and families and ‘early help’ teams. Trained mediators work with young people and families as long as needed. They also employ creative techniques to engage young people who struggle to express themselves in words.

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The outcome

Over many years, talk2sort has achieved a consistently high success rate in preventing youth homelessness and improving other outcomes for young people and families. In 2019-20, talk2sort engaged 126 young people. 100% reported that, as a result of working with the service, their housing situation was resolved or they had avoided becoming homeless, where that had been a likely possibility. 89% reported improved communication and better family relationships. 75% said the service impacted positively on their mental health, and 100% of those reporting the issue reported that they’d reduced substance use and/or involvement in crime and antisocial behaviour.

As a result of its success, talk²sort has both expanded its geographical coverage and its funding base. In 2011, Leicestershire County Council’s Public Health Directorate committed to part-fund the service, deeming it a ‘value for money’ upstream intervention which reduces health inequalities and generates savings to more costly areas of crisis public sector expenditure. In 2019, the service attracted funding from the Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner following a similar understanding of the benefits of an early intervention approach in reducing youth offending.

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Key insights

• mediation isn’t suitable for every young person or family, but offering it in a flexible way at the earliest possible point expands its reach and effectiveness
• investing in relationship-based services for young people before problems have reached crisis point improves their outcomes (in the widest sense), whilst also being cost effective to public services
• mediation can’t prevent all young people leaving home, but can make planned moves and ongoing contact with parents/carers more likely – both of which can bolster future housing sustainment

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Find out more…

Molly Boggis, Head of Programmes & Services, The Bridge
molly.boggis@thebridge_eastmidlands.org.uk