Restorative Justice

Restorative Approaches Conference

St Augustine students lead the way at the

Restorative Approaches Conference

On Thursday 22^nd November 2007 the first ever Restorative Approaches Conference took place at the Conference Centre at Somerset College of Art and Technology aptly falling during National Anti Bullying Week. The event, organised by Avon and Somerset police officer and the schools Restorative Justice Coordinator Andy Jenrick, was opened by Jill Shortland, Leader of Somerset County Council. It focussed on how Restorative Approaches are making a difference in a number of ways in schools, the community and also with young offenders and looked at the future and ways things are moving forward.

The concept of Restorative Justice in schools looks at bringing together those who have fallen out through bullying, fighting or some kind of disagreement or dispute and looks to repair the harm which has been caused. It allows the victim to say how they have been affected whilst giving the wrongdoer an opportunity to take responsibility for the hurt they have caused. Since it was set up in April 2004, over 470 restorative meetings have been held with school.

The Restorative Approaches Conference was attended by over 150 people with them coming from many parts of the country, including Devon, Cornwall, Gloucester, Wiltshire, Wales and London. Also attending was Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset, DCC Beckley, Chief Superintendent Padgett, District Commander for Somerset West and Taunton’s own Mayor Ken Haywood.

Key note speakers at the event were;

Graham Robb, the Chair of the Youth Justice Board
Bishop Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells
Dr Belinda Hopkins, Director of Transforming Conflict
Nicola Preston, Assistant Director of the International Institute of Restorative Practices
Val Keitch, Coordinator of the Chard and Ilminster Community Justice Panel
Students from St Augustine of Canterbury School read out poetry and GCSE Coursework on bullying.
Laura Payne from the Youth Offending team ran a workshop on Restorative Schools in Somerset.

The all day event was clearly a great success, especially the presentations given by the students of the school. Five Year 10 Peer Mentors arrived early and assisted in getting all delegates booked in, guiding them from the main venue to the Genesis Centre where the workshops were held and also assisting with keeping the younger students calm before their presentation. Four students from year 7 wrote poems and 3 from Year 11 wrote articles on bullying with the latter being work for their GCSE Course work. These works were read out to the 150 people who were moved as to contents and compassionate way in which they were delivered. One lady police officer made comment that the poetry was so moving it brought tears to her eyes. Since the event, nothing but the highest level of praise has been given to all students who were there on the day representing the school and to all the staff who helped make it happen.

Bishop Peter Price spoke on his Restorative work with his own community and included work taken from “God’s Politics written by Jim Wallis;

“People are unreasonable, illogical, self centred…love them anyway

If you do good people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives…do good anyway,

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies…be successful anyway,

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow….do good anyway

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable…be honest and frank anyway

People love underdogs but follow only top dogs…follow some underdog anyway,

What you spend years building can be destroyed overnight….build anyway

People who really need help but may attack if you if try to help…..help people anyway,

If you give the world the best you have, you may get kicked in the teeth….but give them the best anyway.

It gives me great pleasure to say that St Augustine of Canterbury is leading the way with Restorative Practices and I am certain other schools in Somerset and throughout the country will follow. New concepts take time to implement but the school has embraced Restorative Justice and can be proud of their achievements in this area.

Andy Jenrick BA (Hons)

PC 2398

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Below are the links to some of the key speakers' work;

YOT - Laura Payne

Transforming Conflict - Dr Belinda Hopkins

IIRP - Nicola Preston

Somerset County Council - Linda Barnett M.B.E.