This edition of the newsletter will focus on Restorative Approaches and how we can build on the work we do as mediators to take this forward, both within school settings and within the wider community.
As you know, Jan took on the role of Project Leader for the Peer Mediation work which we continue to do with schools, training children as peer mediators. As her work has developed, she has become increasingly interested in the area of Restorative Justice/Approaches – sometimes used interchangeably although justice is a word often associated with the legal system and victim/offender mediation. For that reason, I will use the term Restorative Approaches (RA) to share some of the work that is being done around the country under this banner. There will be more information about this in the April bulletin.
Other items in the newsletter include;
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A Restorative Approach to Discipline Issues & Conflicts – by Belinda Hopkins
Virtually all so-called discipline issues in schools or residential settings stem from, or result in, interpersonal conflicts, which leave two or more people feeling angry, hurt resentful, anxious or even afraid.
When in conflict, people need;
If conflicts are dealt with in a way that gets these needs met, then those involved can repair the damage done to their connections with the others involved, or even build connections where there were none previously. They feel fairly treated and respected, since they have been trusted to find solutions for themselves and put things right in their own way. Because they have been listened to, people in conflict are more ready to listen to others’ perspectives and emotional responses and so empathy is developed. This can change the choices made in future situations, as mutual respect and consideration develop.
Punitive responses, on the other hand;
There are 5 key themes underpinning RA. These are;
Unique Stories – everyone has their own unique perspective on a situation or event and needs an opportunity to express this in order to feel respected, valued and listened to.
Thoughts Influence Feelings – what people think at any given moment influences how they feel at that moment, and these feelings inform how they behave. The thoughts and feelings are beneath the surface and yet very important to understand.
Needs – whether someone has caused harm or been on the receiving end of harm, they are likely to have similar needs. Until these needs are met, the harm may not be repaired and relationships remain damaged.
Putting things right together (Ownership of problem-solving and decision making) – it is the people affected by a situation or event who are best placed to identify what should happen so that everyone can move on, and so that the harm can be repaired. This ‘ownership’ of decision-making and problem-solving demonstrates respect and trust, develops pro-social skills and confidence and strengthens connections.
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Remedi (Restorative Justice and Mediation Initiatives)
Remedi is a national organisation based in Sheffield, which runs a number of projects under the RJ/RA banner. This includes working with offenders, in the area of domestic violence/abuse, with young people and schools.
Below is a case study describing work done with a young person in a school setting;
“Adam, 13, had received a final warning as he had caused criminal damage at a local school.
We initially embarked on a session of victim awareness. He was receptive and showed no resistance to the challenging subject. He could easily identify those victimised by his behaviour. However, his primary motivation to change appeared to be his fear of court and the possibility of a Referral Order, rather than any sense of regret or remorse in regard to his victim.
We tried to encourage the empathic thought process in order to introduce the primary victim and promote remorse. After admitting that he had not fully explained his feelings about the events of that day, he elected to write a letter to the Headteacher. This was with the full understanding that the recipient was at liberty to accept or decline the letter. We had been encouraged to proceed due to his attitude change and, with reflection, he began communicating that he felt that what he had done was ‘horrible and nasty’. We did offer the letter to the Head as requested and, although cynical at first, she was very open and suggested that the letter had been unexpected. She was extremely interested in the whole process and felt that it was hugely beneficial in giving clarity to victims.
We frequently find that effective victim awareness training can motivate participants to pursue a restorative process. Decisions about becoming involved in the process are then made from an informed position.”
Remedi’s work is challenging and could be considered controversial in a culture where punishment and sanctions are seen as the only effective ways of dealing with people who transgress or offend. However, research has consistently concluded that the victims of crime and bad behaviour do not feel satisfied with those punishments, hence the increasingly vocal calls for capital punishment to be brought back – the ultimate sanction, some might say. Most victims who do undertake restorative meetings with those who have harmed them come away with the ability to move on from feelings of helplessness and powerlessness, thus allowing them to restore balance into their own lives. As advocates of this approach, practitioners believe that this is the most effective way of restoring victims’ well-being and changing the perpetrators’ long-term behaviour.
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Update on New Trainees
We have a group of 9 new trainees currently undertaking the training with Sue Banwell-Moore. Those of us who have trained with Sue will feel envious of the fantastic experience they are going through and we look forward to welcoming them on to the team after Easter. We have decided not to allocate mentors this time round as the system has been difficult to implement with previous cohorts, but we will be matching trainees with experienced mediators and asking you to support your newer colleagues over the next few months.
The trainees are;
Marie Rollaz |
Alison White |
Abi Agbaje-Williams |
Sujo Akoni |
Sarah Mack |
David Balmer-Cribb |
Anna Hannon |
Susan Michaels |
Lauren Farnham |
Rupert is also training, but has been part of the team for some time now.
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Successes/Positive Feedback
We want to regularly include some positive comments from clients so here’s an exerpt from a letter recently received;
“On behalf of my mother and myself, I wish to express my sincere thanks for all the help given to resolve the dispute between ourselves and our neighbours.
Please send our extreme thanks and gratitude to the two mediators, Roz and Leslie, for all of their time and effort.
I was very apprehensive about using mediation, but now after the Round Table meeting facing my neighbours with our disagreements, hopefully things will improve. Only time will tell if the agreements are long-lasting, hopefully we can live side by side in harmony.
Once again, many thanks to you all for your help, time and patience in resolving this dispute.”
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Progress on the Business Plan
The strategy group working on the final version of the Plan is due to meet in the next few weeks to consider what came out of the consultation event in February and put the final touches to the plan – to be presented to the Board at the end of April.
The finalised plan will then be produced and circulated to all mediators. Please contact the office if you would like a copy of the draft plan or have any other thoughts following the consultation.
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Peer Support Groups for April/May
I will shortly be circulating a number of dates and venues for the next set of groups to be held in late April and May. Please can you contact the office to sign up to one of the dates, particularly if you were unable to attend a meeting earlier this year.
Attendance is a requirement of continuing as a volunteer mediator, and helps to support and develop our practice. The newly-trained mediators will be attending this next set of groups so it will be a good opportunity to meet them and share your experience and insights with them as they start to undertake cases.
We hope to have a whole-team event in either June or July – which may involve an element of training or a speaker – so please watch out for more news about this in the April newsletter.
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