Restorative approaches category shortlist 2022

“Restorative justice brings together people harmed by crime or conflict with those responsible for the harm, to find a positive way forward.

Restorative justice gives victims the chance to tell offenders the real impact of their crime, get answers to their questions and get an apology.

Restorative justice holds offenders to account for what they have done. It helps them understand the real impact, take responsibility, and make amends.” – GOV.UK.

West Midlands Restorative Justice Project, Remedi

The Remedi West Midlands Restorative Justice Service is now entering its 4th year and in that time has achieved high levels of service user engagement. The team has facilitated 1,352 processes and key highlights include; 99% of victims taking part said they were satisfied with their involvement and the outcome of the case, 97% of victims said that the project directly helped them to cope and/or recover from the offence, and 96% of victims taking part said that restorative justice directly helped them to feel safer. 

Website: www.remediuk.org  
Twitter: @RemediRj
Email: [email protected]  

Serious and Violent Prevention Programme, Make Amends (a project of Shekinah)

Make Amends was commissioned to develop a restorative justice approach to working with young people and families in order to prevent further escalation/engagement in the criminal justice system and to address the harm caused by involvement in offending behaviours.  

Practitioners are co-located with partners across the Police and Youth Offending teams, the vision being that they work to prevent children in these families from being at risk of exclusion and criminality and protect them from county lines gang activity and vulnerability. The aim of this is to reduce the number of new entrants into the criminal justice system, reduce offender recidivism and to promote stronger healthier family units.  

Practitioners are supported to work in a way that considers the whole person, their story, family, social networks, environment, health, and wellbeing. The trauma-informed approach puts the person, or family, at the centre of their work, ensuring that they have a voice and are listened to. 

Take a look at the Make Amends infographic which shows their objectives, process, and possible outcomes. 

Website: www.shekinah.co.uk/what-we-do/make-amends/ 
Twitter: @MakeAmendsRJ 
Email: [email protected] 

Restorative Cleveland, Safer Communities Ltd

Restorative Cleveland is part of Safer Communities Ltd which encompasses projects intended to provide a positive contribution within their local communities, and to ultimately make them safer. 

Restorative Cleveland commenced delivery in 2018 and the aim of the project is to give victims a voice and support offenders in their rehabilitation. Their stance is one upheld by Safer Communities as a whole; identifying reasons to help, rather than to exclude anyone from service support, or to delay access to this. Finding innovative, creative ways to ensure that victims remain at the heart of the criminal justice system, whilst promoting efficient care and support, drives Restorative Cleveland to ensure their practice is of a high standard in meeting identified needs. 

Watch the powerful film from Restorative Cleveland below.

Website: www.restorativecleveland.co.uk   
Twitter: @RestorativeClvd 
Email: [email protected]  

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