Volunteers join Sussex Restorative Justice Partnership

The new volunteers on steps at HM Prison Lewes

A group of new volunteers will soon begin restorative justice work in Sussex after completing a recent training course.

Twelve volunteers - known as restorative justice facilitators - completed a three day course at Lewes Prison to prepare them for assisting in conferences where victims of crime are able to meet with offenders through the Sussex Restorative Justice Partnership.

During the course, the new facilitators took part in a number of practical exercises and learnt about the benefits of restorative justice meetings.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne said: “I’m pleased that we have a new group of volunteers and practitioners who want to help victims recover from crime. Restorative justice can help victims cope and recover from crime and also can reduce re-offending.

“Restorative justice places the person harmed at the centre of decision-making and enables them to be clear about what would help to make amends for wrong doing and harm caused

“We generally have around 45 volunteers at any one time and, as lives change, we lose some so this means we can keep a healthy pool of people who are enthusiastic about restorative justice and can continue this great work.

“Some of the newly-trained practitioners are staff at Brighton and Hove City Council and will help further embed our drive to create the first ‘Restorative City’ in the south east.”