Restorative Approaches for Young People

This course is part of the 2023 EFRJ Winter Academy (30 January - 3 February 2023, Leuven, Belgium). Read more about the event and register »

• Learn how to transform relationships and the management  of staff teams, youth groups and classes by addressing  conflicts, bullying, challenging, anti-social and criminal behaviours as well as low-level disruption in a restorative, emotionally literate way, so that the needs of all those involved are met and the harm repaired
• Develop restorative responses that can reduce the use of, and the need for ,disciplinary procedures, exclusions and other punitive sanctions whilst still offering closure to all those affected
• Practice running circle processes to help you build a sense of community amongst young people and amongst staff teams, to develop trust and mutual respect, and to enhance confidence and problem-solving skills
• Make the links between restorative approaches and the development of the social and emotional literacy and skills of staff and young people alike. 

All those wanting to develop restorative approaches in educational and youth settings, including those working in and with schools and specialist support units; and in youth justice environments; Senior managers especially encouraged to attend.

Module 1a        
Most of this introductory module will be offered on-line before the Winter Academy begins. Please ensure that you have watched all the videos, read the accompanying notes and completed the on-line assessment on this material before arriving in Leuven. We want to focus our time on skills practice and experiential learning whilst we are together. We will learn by doing and then reflecting together afterwards.

Module 1b            Experiencing circles to build community

Module 2
Deepening listening skills and learning a powerful 5-step framework called Restorative Enquiry based on 5 core beliefs; responding effectively and creatively to challenges in offices, staffrooms, corridors and classrooms; working further with circles for different purposes

Module 2
Deepening listening skills and learning a powerful 5-step framework called Restorative Enquiry based on 5 core beliefs; responding effectively and creatively to challenges in offices, staffrooms, corridors and classrooms; working further with circles for different purposes

Module 3a      Introducing the face-to-face meeting framework for mediation, problem-solving and repairing harm based on the 5 core beliefs

Module 3a      Introducing the face-to-face meeting framework for mediation, problem-solving and repairing harm based on the 5 core beliefs

Dr Belinda Hopkins pioneered the use of restorative approaches in schools across the UK during the early 2000’s. She is the founding director of Transforming Conflict, the National Centre for Restorative Approaches in Youth and Community Settings. Transforming Conflict has now established itself as one of the foremost providers of training and consultancy in the field of restorative approaches across Europe. Her book ‘Just Schools’(JKP 2004) has inspired many people internationally as have her other books and publications since then.
She continues to run training courses herself, writes books and articles, develops training materials and resources, and speaks at conferences nationally and internationally. She is proud to be the current Chair of the EFRJ Restorative Schools Working Group and is an active member of the Training Committee and facilitates the Trainers’ Network meetings.
Because of her concerns around climate change Belinda avoids flying when possible and so no longer works beyond Europe. She has enjoyed long and epic journeys by train (and ferry) to places like Poland, Estonia, Slovenia and Ukraine. She values her links with colleagues across Europe highly and has established a network to support those people she has trained as trainers so they can continue to support each other and innovate.

Hanne Dehertog works as trainer at Arktos vzw (Belgium). Arktos is a Flemish centre of expertise empowering children and young people in vulnerable situations and persons with disabilities, and supports parents, schools, partners, authorities and the wider society to work along similar principles.  As an experienced Bounce resilience trainer Hanne worked in different cities in Europe with organisations and young people. Following her training with Transforming Conflict, she does restorative work in schools, and delivers training in the field. 
She is engaged in the Leuven Restorative City project.