Restorative Practices in Communities
For the first phase of the Restorative Practices Project (2013-16), the communities of Moyross, Ballynanty and Southill were prioritised. With our new funding from Limerick City and County Council, we are hoping to expand our work and support other regeneration communities in the city who are curious about RP.
If you are interested in community RP, please email our Development Officer at respracdevoff@gmail.com
If you are interested in community RP, please email our Development Officer at respracdevoff@gmail.com
COMMUNITY CASE STUDY
Towards a Restorative Community Centre: Southill Area Centre the story so far
The Southill Area Centre is a purpose built centre for the Southill Community. Since its opening in September 2008 it has enhanced the lives of the local residents by providing them with a community centre where local groups meet and plan their activities.
This hub in the community was developed as the result of a needs assessment which was carried out in the local area. It was identified that there was a need for a one-stop centre offering a ‘cradle to the grave’ approach to community care. Tenants in the centre include the Family Resource Centre Crèche, Limerick Youth Service, Southill After Schools Club and the Community Youth Work Team.
It also offers a range of outreach services; the Local Employment Service, a Welfare Rights Officer, Al Jeff Drug Treatment Agency, the Educational Welfare Board and Limerick City Council (Housing Department). At the core of the centre is The Community Cafe, which is open to the public.
It has developed as a safe space for the people of Southill to meet, socialise, take part in the many different educational courses on offer and to be a part of the community in an informal and relaxed environment.
The Area Centre’s restorative journey started when the manager and 3 youth work staff took part in Restorative Practice training run by Le Chéile Mentoring and Youth Justice Support Services in 2011. The Manager trained to Restorative Practices and Conferencing Skills level and the 3 youth workers completed the one-day Introduction to Restorative Practices. Recognising the potential that Restorative Practices could bring to the work of the center and in addressing community conflict the Manager has become a strong advocate for Restorative Practices. With the emergence of the Limerick Restorative Practices project she was identified as a potential Restorative Practice Trainer and took part in the five day Training of Trainers in August 2013. She has been certified and approved as an IIRP Europe trainer.
During the three-month period of November 2013 to January 2014 the Youth Work Team extended their skills and have completed the Restorative Practice and Conferencing Skills training programme. This training has been supplemented with support visits from the Restorative Practice Development Officer. The youth work team is now integrating restorative practices informally in their youth work using circles for group building and impromptu conferences to resolve issues. They also use circles to build and maintain relationships with the children and young people using their services. They are also working on a restorative model of Youth Work, which will integrate the National Quality Standards Framework for Youth Work.
Evolving out of this the Area Centre’s Voluntary Board of Management have been briefed on Restorative Practices and committed to the training of all Area Centre staff on a phased basis. All staff completed introductory training in August 2014.
Since then, Southill Area Centre has been actively involved in a number of pieces of restorative community initiatives, for example 'In Fairness' with the Hunt Museum Communities of Culture, 'Teas It Out' with Le Chéile, and a number of RP in the Community workshops.
Towards a Restorative Community Centre: Southill Area Centre the story so far
The Southill Area Centre is a purpose built centre for the Southill Community. Since its opening in September 2008 it has enhanced the lives of the local residents by providing them with a community centre where local groups meet and plan their activities.
This hub in the community was developed as the result of a needs assessment which was carried out in the local area. It was identified that there was a need for a one-stop centre offering a ‘cradle to the grave’ approach to community care. Tenants in the centre include the Family Resource Centre Crèche, Limerick Youth Service, Southill After Schools Club and the Community Youth Work Team.
It also offers a range of outreach services; the Local Employment Service, a Welfare Rights Officer, Al Jeff Drug Treatment Agency, the Educational Welfare Board and Limerick City Council (Housing Department). At the core of the centre is The Community Cafe, which is open to the public.
It has developed as a safe space for the people of Southill to meet, socialise, take part in the many different educational courses on offer and to be a part of the community in an informal and relaxed environment.
The Area Centre’s restorative journey started when the manager and 3 youth work staff took part in Restorative Practice training run by Le Chéile Mentoring and Youth Justice Support Services in 2011. The Manager trained to Restorative Practices and Conferencing Skills level and the 3 youth workers completed the one-day Introduction to Restorative Practices. Recognising the potential that Restorative Practices could bring to the work of the center and in addressing community conflict the Manager has become a strong advocate for Restorative Practices. With the emergence of the Limerick Restorative Practices project she was identified as a potential Restorative Practice Trainer and took part in the five day Training of Trainers in August 2013. She has been certified and approved as an IIRP Europe trainer.
During the three-month period of November 2013 to January 2014 the Youth Work Team extended their skills and have completed the Restorative Practice and Conferencing Skills training programme. This training has been supplemented with support visits from the Restorative Practice Development Officer. The youth work team is now integrating restorative practices informally in their youth work using circles for group building and impromptu conferences to resolve issues. They also use circles to build and maintain relationships with the children and young people using their services. They are also working on a restorative model of Youth Work, which will integrate the National Quality Standards Framework for Youth Work.
Evolving out of this the Area Centre’s Voluntary Board of Management have been briefed on Restorative Practices and committed to the training of all Area Centre staff on a phased basis. All staff completed introductory training in August 2014.
Since then, Southill Area Centre has been actively involved in a number of pieces of restorative community initiatives, for example 'In Fairness' with the Hunt Museum Communities of Culture, 'Teas It Out' with Le Chéile, and a number of RP in the Community workshops.
