Market Research Solutions for Linguistic Insights

 Linguistic Insights was commissioned to deliver the evaluation of the Wise Group’s Relational Mentoring Service, a North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) initiative supporting individuals across the North East who face multiple and complex barriers to employment. Delivered in partnership with trusted local organisations, Justice Prince, JET North, RHWE, Building Futures East, and The Meadows, the programme provided highly personalised, relationship-based mentoring tailored to each participant’s needs.

Led by Dr Maria Fotiadou, the evaluation applied a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative outcomes with advanced qualitative and linguistic analysis to explore participant experience, programme effectiveness, and long-term impact.

Key evaluation highlights included:

• An outstanding average satisfaction score of 4.73 out of 5, with most participants describing their experience as “very satisfied”
   
• 95% of participants said they would recommend the service to a friend or family member
   
• Significant reported improvements in confidence, wellbeing, motivation, and social inclusion
   
• Strong progression into positive post-programme activities, including job searching, volunteering, training, and employment
   
• High praise for the empathetic, non-judgemental, and consistent support provided by mentors
   
• The importance of wellbeing activities and social connections in reducing isolation and building community
   
• Rich qualitative feedback indicating a transformational impact on individuals’ lives
   

Using advanced techniques such as discourse analysis and corpus linguistics, Linguistic Insights analysed thousands of words of open-text feedback to uncover deeper patterns and insights. This analysis revealed the emotional dimensions of the participant journey—restoring confidence, regaining identity, and moving forward with renewed self-belief. Participants frequently described mentors as “going above and beyond,” with keywords such as “listen,” “support,” and “understanding” appearing repeatedly throughout the data.

The final evaluation confirms that the Relational Mentoring Service delivers comprehensive, participant-led support that empowers individuals to overcome challenges and take meaningful steps towards sustainable employment and personal development. The Wise Group’s relational model stands as a strong example of inclusive, human-centred practice with long-lasting social impact.