Mentoring Solutions was a pioneering project led by my friend Ian McAleer providing intensive support for ex-offenders in the first hours, days and weeks after their release from prison in the form of mentoring provided by an experienced trained team of staff and volunteers most of whom are themselves ex-offenders. Started in the Southampton, Portsmouth and Winchester area 3 and a half years ago to serve local clients particularly those with addiction problems, it has served more than 350 clients including men and women and people of many different ethnic backgrounds and with many different issues.