Cygnet Project

Call for interested parties to tender for an evaluation

The Cygnet project is a mentoring scheme for young people with autism spectrum conditions.

Background

The need for this project was identified by individuals with autism spectrum conditions at a Research Autism Collaborative Autism Forum. Many say they would benefit from access to specialised, time limited mentoring. This may be in addition to or instead of family or other forms of support such as befriending. An outline scheme, called CYGNET, has been designed by a group of individuals with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism facilitated by Research Autism. It is proposed to establish and evaluate the impact of such a scheme.

Participants

Mentees would have a diagnosis of autism or Asperger syndrome and wish to participate in such a scheme. They would be between the ages of 16 and 24 years at the start of their involvement with the scheme.

Mentors would be drawn from a broad cross section of the community, including people on the autism spectrum. They would undergo training and commit to a 2 year relationship with a particular mentee. They would undergo appropriate checks in terms of references and CRB.

The provider agency (PA) would build on the steering group’s outline of the scheme and bring it to fruition. The scheme would need to be one that is scaleable and sustainable. Thoughts as to long term funding streams and viability would be part of the brief of the provider agency. The PA would also recruit, train and support mentees and mentors, devise and evaluate a training course and evaluate progress and outcomes. We are flexible as to methodology and design but would emphasise the need to fully involve the autism community.

The PA would be committed to emancipatory and participatory research and would have a track record in successful relationships with this group.

Evaluation

Evaluation would be undertaken by Research Autism working with the provider agency.

Outcomes

The steering group identified a number of outcomes that would be desirable.

Overall aim of the scheme:

Does having a mentor help reduce social isolation and anxiety, and help achieve personal goals?

Primary outcome measures:

reduction in social isolation;
feeling less stressed/anxious;
achievement of personal goals.

Secondary outcome measures:

doing well academically;
being in work or making progress toward employment

Duration and funding

We envisage a four year project which will include design, implementation and evaluation.
Significant funding would be available via Research Autism.

Expressions of interest

Expressions of interest are sought from provider agencies that outline:

1. The proposed methodology for setting up and evaluating such a scheme and the identification of any ethical issues.
2. Proposals on how individuals with autism spectrum conditions would be consulted and involved.
3. Specific ideas on how the scheme would be delivered (including ideas on recruitment and models of training for mentors).
4. Specific ideas on how to evaluate the scheme utilising the outcomes identified by the steering group.
5. Specific proposals on dissemination.
6. Ideas on long term replication.
7. Other outcomes and outputs.
8. Costs of the project.

At this stage we are seeking outline proposals only. We will require more detail from selected applicants before final decisions are taken.

Richard Mills, Director of Research and Hon Sec., Research Autism, Church House, Church Road, Filton, Bristol, BS34 7BD. Email Richard.mills@researchautism.net.

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