Report of Network & Training day 2007
Network and Training Day - past and future
I'd like to thank the speakers and workshop facilitators who gave up their time and helped make the 2007 Network & Training day a success. I also want to thank all those who attended and especially those who helped out on the day. Feedback from the event was again largely positive both in comments on evaluation forms and in unsolicited comments received after the event, so it will all be happening again next year!
2008 Event
The 2008 event is booked for Tuesday 11th November, so if interested reserve the day in you diary now! Planned themes are 'dealing with Cyberbullying' and 'linking peer mediation with government strategies'. More details will be on the website soon and the programme will be distributed over the summer. Anyone able to get involved in planning or providing sessions on the day, please get in contact. If you know of anyone specialising in either of the above areas who'd be willing to speak for out of pocket expenses only, then please also get in contact with me, on JaciS@quaker.org.uk.
The more people we can get along, the more chance there is that you'll meet up with others to inspire and learn from, so do please let colleagues know about the day and the network.
November 2007 feedback:
I particularly liked the comment referring to the "smooth running of the day". At the time it felt anything but smooth, so it's nice to know that people appreciate what goes into organising these events.
The same person mentioned that he "… went away inspired to know that there are other like minded individuals, at times battling against the tide, who are still passionate about what we are doing in our immensely important field of conflict resolution or whatever we may call it". This is what these Network & Training days are all about, so good to know it's hitting the spot for at least some of you.
Speakers
Presentations from both Mark Bitel & Hilary Stacey really hit the mark with most delegates. Feedback highlighted the presentations as a really positive aspect of the day, with one delegates going as far as to say "I thought your two speakers were EXCELLENT".
Delegate's reported that Mark's presentation gave them something practical and usable to take away with them, whilst Hilary's was thought provoking getting delegates to evaluate their own practice. Other comments included:
"I will be putting Mark's pyramid into use right away which is timely for my evaluation as our funding draws to a close... hopefully it will provide evidence as to positive benefits for the future".
and
"Mark gave much needed practical information about evaluation and Hilary's work is thought provoking".
Workshops
Young people involved in peer mediation were involved in providing each of the workshops this year, and as with the speakers, feedback on workshops was generally very positive. I asked a delegate in each workshop to report on the workshop they attended and have included extracts on each below.
Peer Inspection by Healthy Minds, Lambeth
Cheynen, a junior peer inspector joined the Lambeth Healthy Minds team to provide this workshop. She identified her role as a peer inspector in other primary schools in the borough, identifying how nervous she felt, but that working with a more experienced peer inspector helped with this.
The model was developed by Healthy Minds staff through consultation and the involvement of a group of young people. They found that the Peer Inspection process offered fresh objective perspective of services and a very useful leverage tool.
An example of the kind of improvements that this project has been able to identify are the use of 'fetchers' who patrol the play ground and staff will send disputing young people with fetchers to use the mediation service. Other developments have been forums for the co-ordinators and forums for Peer Mediators and Inspectors.
The Peer inspection process highlights a form of career development and local youth services have been eager to utilise the Peer Inspectors when assessing other services.
Positive Conflict Workshop by Hackney Mediation Service
This was a well thought out and executed workshop run by two peer researchers, Saleem and Iesha.
The purpose of the workshop was to share information about the research project, which took place this summer. This peer led project wanted to find out where the youth in Hackney came across conflict and to raise awareness about the best ways to resolve it.
We were told about their training to become skilled researchers and were engaged in discussions and role-play about the best ways to interview people. We were shown a clip from a DVD showing a focus group discussion and facilitators used Powerpoint to help deliver some of the information.
Their final report recommended that a good peer mediation team should be set up in each school and links should be established and maintained with the mediation service, police and youth groups. The research project had been a good first step in getting things going. It was well planned and supported.
It had raised awareness among the public about conflict and mediation and also established a committed team of young people with the confidence to move things forward with the help of a few dedicated staff.
Restorative Approaches in Secondary Education by Southwark Mediation
The real joy of this workshop was the frank and dynamic presentation by the young people who were members of the Peer Mediation Serviceat Bacon's College.
The background to the work was provided via a video. In spite of the fact that the sound quality was variable, this gave a clear picture of the selection process; training and debrief.
The mediators present demonstrated excellent understanding of their role as shown in the video as well as the safeguards in place and of the support service provided for them. They explained how the service had developed and how they had earned the trust of fellow students.
The young people explained the mechanics of how the service is run and how well it is used in Bacon's College. The issue of referrals was discussed and interesting points were raised. The effect of being a mediator on academic performance was another interesting discussion topic. The training received by the young people was accredited.
Finally, the use of mediators outside school and the effect on the college were explored. The young people present had worked in their community with some success and they all felt that the existence of the Service inside school had led to a 'problem solving' culture.
Thanks
Thanks to those who provided workshops and to those who reported on them.
Full copies of each report, which includes fuller details of how each scheme works, can be found on the PEN websiteor by contacting me on JaciS@quaker.org.uk.
Book Launch
Hilary Cremin launched her new book, 'Peer Mediation'. The book was dedicated to the memory of Jerry Tyrell who was instrumental in introducing peer mediation in Northern Ireland through 'Education for Mutual Understanding' (EMU). A copy of the book was presented to John Lampen, of the Hope Project, on behalf of the family.
AGM
The AGM planned for the end of the day, was not held. Instead those present took part in a discuss on the future direction of the PMN. It was decided at this stage that the need for a formal constitution is not necessary, though this will be re-evaluated regularly.
The proposal for collaboration between PMN & LEAP was withdrawn.
Jaci Smith, Peace Education Advisor, Quaker Peace & Social Witness