Mentoring impact report published
Published on 18 December 2025
We are really excited to publish an impact report summarising the findings from the Mentoring Autistic Adults Project which ran from 2022-25 in Glasgow. This project was supported by National Lottery’s Community Fund, providing 72 autistic people with mentoring, enrolling 83 volunteer mentors, and delivering over 1,000 hours of mentoring.
The Mentoring Autistic Adults Project (MAAP) provided one-to-one support for autistic adults aged 21 and over in Glasgow from 2022 to 2025. The project matched trained volunteers with mentees, based on shared interests and life experiences. They worked together to identify strengths, set achievable goals, and take practical steps towards them. The delivery was flexible with both in person and online mentoring tailored to each mentees’ needs.
The project had a clear impact on both mentors and mentees providing them with a supportive space to grow and build confidence.
- 89% of sessions were rated Good or Excellent.
- Mentee outcomes: Increased self-acceptance, willingness to try new things, social confidence, resilience, self-kindness, joy in connection, motivation, and achievement of set goals.
- Mentor outcomes: Satisfaction from helping others, deeper understanding of autism, improved professional communication skills, and a sense of contributing to something bigger.
- In the final year, new mentees’ confidence rose from an average of 4.4 to 7.8 out of 10.
An emerging theme of the project has been the positive impact of talking. Having a mentoring relationship made both parties more connected and confident. Some connections have progressed beyond the project, with pairs wishing to keep in touch and continue enjoying shared time together.
Many mentees at the end of the programme reported that they are now able to do many things they couldn’t before such as traveling independently, working at the job they wanted, enrolling for specialised support and much more.
Rob Holland, Director of NAS Scotland, said:
“Seeing the growth, confidence, and connections that have emerged between mentors and mentees has been wonderful and is a real testament to the commitment of staff, volunteers and participants. Each story of progress and each moment of impact has been a reminder of the power of mentoring, and of the difference that meaningful relationships can make in people’s lives.”
An autistic mentee felt the programme highlighted the benefits of having set goals and said:
“My mentor understood what I needed, was guiding me to that and helping me to get the most out of the meetings. He helped me to break down the steps in a plan, having smaller things to achieve… If I had any doubts, I could bring that to the mentoring, and it just made me want to move because I knew I had that support.”
A volunteer mentor felt that the programme broadened their perspective and said:
“I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences of autistic adults and each challenge they have. I feel much more confident about advocating for them. My communication skills have improved, particularly in terms of clarity and patience. I’ve also learned more about being adaptable and flexible in my own approach.”