News
Welcome to our news section. Our latest news will appear here.
Restorative Skills
Restorative Skills
In a little over a month’s time, we will be delivering our accredited Restorative Skills course. This is an entry-level qualification for those wanting to deliver restorative practice. It takes learners through all stage of the restorative process, from introductions, explaining what it means, supporting clients and then running a successful restorative meeting. Using a variety of learning methods, we provide a safe and fun space for participants to practice new skills and develop fresh perspectives.
To learn more about this training, why not visit our web page, or if you would like to have a chat about this course, contact us.
Out on tour!
Yesterday saw us back in Dundee, this time delivering the first day of our two-day Conflict Resolution course to staff and volunteers at the Hot Chocolate Trust.
This is just the latest example of where an organisation approaches us to commission a course.
Community Mediation in the Shetland Islands
-320.jpg)
There are 22 community mediation services around Scotland, helping neighbours in conflict find a positive way forward and sort out their differences. The Scottish Community Mediation Centre supports these services by providing admin for their network and offering training and advice. In this podcast, we hear from Ingrid who runs the Shetland service, and learn a little about how island life and communities affect the way mediation is delivered.
Restorative Practice
In a little over a month’s time, I will be running a workshop on the subject of Restorative Practice. This is a term that may be unfamiliar to many of you. You might wonder “restore what?” or “how does it work?” The restorative landscape contains a number of phrases that describe different processes, and for those unfamiliar with these terms, it can be confusing.
There is “restorative approaches” where the practitioner works with only one person. There’s “restorative justice” which is where cases relating to criminal offences are worked with, and then there’s restorative practice. This last phrase, restorative practice, covers all types of activities in a restorative setting. But what does restorative mean?
When can conflict be good?
When can conflict be good? (reprise of July 2025 blog)
Usually conflict is presented as something that is negative, and that there is one side seen as right and the other as wrong. These two factors have an impact on how people view, and work with conflict. Conflict being portrayed as something that is negative and, separately, that the two sides in a conflict always consist of one agent who is in the right and the other in the wrong, act as masks to a broader understanding and appreciation of conflict. It can cause a ‘flight, fight or freeze’ response, none of which helps sort out a conflict amicably.
On our Mediation Skills training, one of the things we look at are the different conflict management styles people use, and how this may vary from one situation to another. We also propose that conflict can be helpful, can even be good. For some, this may come as a surprise.
RSS