Shine is a national mentoring service for women offenders. The service is provided as a Public Social Partnership (PSP), a strategic partnership between public and voluntary sector organisations.

Shine aims to meet the distinct needs of women involved in the criminal justice system. Shine will work with you to develop a jointly agreed mentoring plan to support you achieve your goals and ambitions.

Following are examples of areas of support Shine mentors can focus on.

  • Provide practical support to help you meet the requirements of your CPO.
  • Support you to address your drug and or alcohol problems with a referral to specialist agencies.
  • Support you to address domestic abuse and access appropriate support services.
  • Support you access appropriate mental health services.
  • Provide housing advice and support.
  • Support your coming to terms with the implications of childhood trauma and abuse.
  • Help completing forms, including, housing, DWP and emergency grants
  • Advocate on your behalf when liaising with other servcies

The service is available to all adult females who are

  • currently serving a custodial sentence in Scotland of less than four years and not subject to a statutory order or;
  • on remand or;
  • subject to a Community Payback Order.

Women can be referred by a range of professionals including and we accept prison and community referrals.

  • Women can also self-refer.
  • Criminal Justice Social Workers
  • Scottish Prison Service Staff
  • Health professionals
  • Any other organisation involved in the women’s support, so long as they meet the referral criteria

See link for additional referral information www.shinementoring.org/referrals/criteria