PACT (Prison Advice and Care Trust) – Restorative Approaches Training

Another opportunity to continue our training with PACT, working with two cohorts of colleagues, all from different locations around the country, with varying degrees of experience in their roles and length of service with the charity. 

The majority were currently involved in a relatively new pilot project, which supports the effective resettlement of women as they prepare to leave prison, for a positive transition back into their families and communities. Other roles supported more with community outreach work and all roles involved working with people who’s needs are varied and complex.

Within the sessions we explored the origins, philosophy and development of restorative approaches, discussing it’s uses, aims and ethos. This enabled insight, via group discussions, to identify all the different settings and situations that restorative approaches could be applied to their everyday practice and how relationships are paramount to achieve this.

Practical sessions also created a safe space for the group to apply their learning and work with case studies, to facilitate restorative discussions, meetings and circles enabling them to become more confident in working with the framework and experiencing the impact of working in this way for themselves.

The different roles and experience within the group, created valuable conversations about the benefits and challenges of embedding this approach in their work. Exploring how the culture, environment and internal systems may not always be conducive to this approach, together with the timeframe of their involvement – all of which they felt it was possible to highlight and action change, in order to drive positive change moving forward within their teams, organisation and wider partnerships.

Feedback:

"Really enjoyed this and feel inspired to use it in different work settings."

"Being here has helped to feel confident and given another set of skills that will help me to be the best at my role, in turn helping others succeed."

"This has helped me identify what I am already doing in my role and where that fits in the restorative approach. It has also helped to identify what more I can do to/implement to facilitate change/good practice."

"Leanne is absolutely fab – this is by far my favourite training I have been part of and that is down to Leanne. So knowledgeable, approachable and kind."

"Excellent training, Leanne is great – content was well explained and put into practice."

"Felt confident in my knowledge and desire to use restorative approaches."

"Learnt how to apply restorative approaches in all of life."

"Everyone would benefit from this training."