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Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
Justin Mui and Tyler Sim will be speaking on their upcoming book Relationships, Community, and the Restorative School: Lessons from Singapore.
More information and booking coming soon!
Dr Clair Aldington will lead an interactive workshop on using art and design in restorative justice, based on her extensive research and practice experience.
More information and booking coming soon!
Colette Selwood and Pete Wallis will facilitate an interactive online workshop exploring restorative approaches in safeguarding.
More details and booking coming soon!
Sargeant Sandra Smith and Samantha Alexander (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire Women of Colour in Policing Movement) will share their success in running listening circles with police and marginalised groups, specifically women and girls from minority groups who have been affected by male violence against women and girls.
Sandra and Samantha will discuss how to use circles to foster dialogue and create better relationships between marginalised groups and the police, including the steps they took to ensure that the circles worked well and were a safe space for the people involved to talk about their lived experiences. They will also share what they have learned through the process and the impact the circles have had on relationships, police policy and culture, and the women involved.
Please note: this event will not be recorded due to the sensitivity of the work being discussed.
Wild Goose Theatre have kindly allowed us to sell tickets to a preview performance of Much Ado About Nothing and for the proceeds to go to The Mint House. Come along to enjoy this fun Shakespeare play with us and support The Mint House!
Tickets are £5 and can be bought online (recommended) or on the door.
Join us at this one day online conference as we explore what it means to be a relational and restorative organisation and practical ways to embed restorative approaches in our culture and ways of working. We will think about what this means for us as individuals and how we can influence our organisations to be more relational.
The format will be varied and interactive, including presentations, breakout room discussions, conversations with experts, and opportunities to reflect on and share learning.
This conference has CPD Approval from the Restorative Justice Council.
Conference registration now open! Early Bird ticket deadline has been extended to the 4th of June!
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
Margaret Thorsborne and Joe Brummer will discuss how individual educators can bring trauma informed restorative practice into their day-to-day work.
Margaret and Joe will share theory and research from their book Becoming a Trauma-informed Restorative Educator: Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behaviour, including insights from neuroscience and theories about shame.
Claudia Christen-Schneider will be speaking on her book Trauma-Informed Restorative Dialogues: The Power of Community which discusses the integration of trauma-informed practice with restorative justice. The event will be hosted by Dr Kerry Clamp, the editor of the book series Contemporary Issues In Restorative Practice.
Join us to discuss the topics covered in our Reflection Aids for Restorative Leaders as we share with each other what we have learned so far about embedding restorative practice and think about what’s next. The knowledge sharing event will be interactive and give you an opportunity to not only engage with the themes in the reflection aids but also build bridges with others by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and learning, and listen to others.
A 2-hour CPD training event designed to help practitioners consider the underlying heuristic biases which may impact restorative work.
The event will be hosted by Dr Kathryn Rowsell, a registered and chartered Forensic Psychologist and a Trustee of The Mint House. Joining Dr Rowsell will be Richard Barker, a Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Psychology Lead for Medium secure services in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Listening circles provide an opportunity for us to stop and listen in a culture which can be fast-paced and self-centred. Circles can take different formats, but listening circles are powerful in their invitation to listen deeply to the thoughts and experiences of others and connect us to shared understanding and knowing. Join us as we explore the use of listening circles with examples from women's circles and nature circles.
Mel Wiggins MBE will share her experience of running women’s circles. She was first trained in circle facilitation as a restorative justice practitioner and decided to bring her skills and this approach to her coaching and community building work supporting women. Mel runs day-long events where women gather to participate in circle, intentionally making space for listening to one another. Mel will share the ethos behind her work and what she has learned from holding space for people to be heard and known.
Helen Edwards is new to circles and restorative practice, and has recently organised circles on a local nature reserve as part of her work as Chair of Oxford Urban Wildlife Group. Helen will share what drew her to circles and how circles can facilitate interconnectedness with nature and each other.
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this recent initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
How can Local Authorities and others encourage the use of relational and restorative practice in their schools? How has this successfully been done in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Portsmouth? What theory and research underpin this work? What are the benefits of this approach?
We will share how relational practice in schools has evolved over time and been successfully implemented in schools in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Portsmouth through the development of the Relational and Restorative School Leadership Programme, supported by The Restorative Lab.
Bec Mason (Portsmouth City Council), Clare Pike (Oxfordshire County Council), Laura East (Oxfordshire County Council), and Molly Macleod (Gloucestershire County Council) will share stories and examples of how relational and restorative practices have been used in schools in their areas.
Dr Anna Gregory (The Restorative Lab) will present the ethos and framework behind this exciting programme including the evolution of theory and practice informed by research.
What needs and challenges are involved in adapting restorative justice in environmental cases? How has restorative justice been used in cases involving environmental harm?
We are excited to welcome Professor Ivo Aertsen and Lawrence Kershen KC for a dialogue between theory and practice in environmental restorative justice. Ivo Aertsen will introduce the topic for us, including how restorative justice can be adapted in cases of environmental harm and some of the needs and challenges involved. Lawrence Kershen will share his experiences as a facilitator and lawyer to reflect on how environmental restorative justice happens in practice.
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this new initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
“All of Us” follows a family fractured and torn apart by violence and incarceration. As one family member comes to the end of their prison sentence, each of them explores how to move on and heal.
The film screening of the play will be followed by a live Q&A with Rebecca Abrams (playwright), Miranda Warner (producer and actor), and others.
Wild Goose Theatre have kindly allowed us to sell tickets to their dress rehearsal of "Twelfth Night" and for the proceeds to go to The Mint House. Come along to enjoy this fun Shakespeare play and support The Mint House!
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2018-19 included a commitment to having ‘RJ services widely available across Scotland ... with the interests of victims at their heart.’ The vision wishes RJ to be made available to all who wish to access it at a time appropriate to the people and case involved. But this will necessarily be a long journey.
We’re delighted that Professor Joanna Shapland and Ashley Scotland have agreed to lead a session outlining Scotland’s journey so far and how this may relate to the experience of some other countries.
Interested in finding out how restorative practice needs to continue to evolve to make the most of its reforming potential? We're delighted to welcome David Moore & Alikki Vernon on April 24th from 12noon to share insights from their new book.
Dr Steve Kirkwood has recently completed a Research Fellowship funded by the Leverhulme Trust examining the potential for restorative justice in relation to people who have experienced forced migration.
We’re delighted that Stave has agreed to share finding from this work with us at The Mint House network event from 1-2pm on Thursday 1 February.
Originally from Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand, Steve worked as a Research Officer for the Community Justice charity, Sacro, from 2005-2009, before completing a PhD at the University of Edinburgh on the integration of asylum seekers and refugees in Scotland.
Steve is now Senior Lecturer in Social Work and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy within Edinburgh University’s School of Social and Political Science. His research aims to enhance understanding of issues of identity and citizenship in relation to justice and injustice, and (ultimately) to improve society’s response to those who have caused, or been harmed, by crime or injustice.
Steve has also been part of a research team investigating approaches to mitigating risk in restorative justice, findings from which can be found here.
We would love for you to join us for our fundraising quiz night on Thursday 23rd November at New Road Baptist Church (Oxford OX1 1LQ) starting at 7pm.
Hear about the shared learning from ongoing work to grow a restorative just culture at the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Hear the story of Norfolk’s journey to embed restorative practice, followed by time for questions and discussion.
Join the Restorative Parenting Network Gathering on Wednesday 20th September at 4pm-5pm GMT on Zoom.
Wild Goose Theatre have kindly allowed us to sell tickets to their dress rehearsal of "Romeo and Juliet" and for the proceeds to go to The Mint House. Come along to enjoy this iconic Shakespeare play and support The Mint House!
Please note this performance is being held at New Road Baptist Church.
Tickets are £5 and available on the door or on Eventbrite:
How can we talk to other people about restorative justice and practice in ways which connect with them?
How can we be most effective in encouraging people to take part in restorative work and making it accessible for them?
Sessions and speakers at this online conference will include:
Solutions-focused journalism and working with the media (Jodie Jackson - News Literacy Lab, Myra Anubi - BBC, Nina Champion - Criminal Justice Alliance)
How to amplify the voices of people with lived experience of restorative justice and share their stories (Sussex Pathways and Sussex Police)
Communicating restorative justice to people who harm (Esther Wanjie-Nyeko – Belong)
Communicating restorative justice to people who have been harmed by crime (Mike Bailey – Victim Support)
Communicating restorative justice to gatekeepers (Dr Nikki D’Souza – Northumbria University)
Communicating restorative justice across cultures, faiths, and languages (Sula Blankenburg – Why me?)
Explaining restorative justice to young people (Leah Robinson – Why me?)
Adapting restorative practice for language and communication needs (Paul Cornall – Stockport Inclusion Service)
Communicating restorative justice at a national level (Jim Simon – RJC)
Refocusing the narrative: aligning with respect (Monica Morris and Rachel Quine - Understanding People (UP) Project)
Networking breakout rooms
Resources sharing session
The sessions will vary in format, including presentations, circle conversations, and storytelling sessions (with some sessions running in parallel). All sessions will involve an element of discussion, and we are hoping to learn a lot from the invited speakers as well as each other in this participatory conference.
The conference will be of interest to anyone who is involved in talking about restorative practice with others, whether you are a restorative practitioner, involved in running a restorative practice organisation, working within education or criminal justice, or a communications professional.
Parts of the conference sessions will be recorded, but recordings will only be made available to those who have booked a place at the conference.
With your booking for the 2023 Conference, you will also receive access to all of the recordings from our 2022 Conference!
The conference has received CPD Approval from the RJC and CPD certificates will be available after the event. Please note that we will only be able to award CPD hours to those who attend the full day.
Tickets are £45 (full price) or £40 (early bird price, if booked more than a month before the event) and can be booked on Eventbrite.
(A very limited number of discounted tickets for students are available upon request. Please email joy@minthouseoxford.co.uk for details.)
A 2-hour CPD training event designed to help practitioners consider the underlying heuristic biases which may impact restorative work.
This event has RJC CPD Approval (Reference RJCMH200423).
To err is human… We are delighted to offer a 2-hour CPD workshop exploring unconscious heuristic biases which have potential to impact restorative processes. In this reflective and interactive space, we will explore how these unconscious processes influence our decision-making processes and what we can do to mitigate their impacts.
We will:
Help practitioners understand why heuristic biases exist.
Share how heuristic biases influence our decision-making processes.
Consider together how heuristic biases may impact on restorative processes, including safety and non-discriminatory practice.
Explore ways to mitigate the impact of heuristic biases on restorative work.
The event will be hosted by Dr Kathryn Rowsell, a registered and chartered Forensic Psychologist and a Trustee of The Mint House. Joining Dr Rowsell will be Richard Barker, a Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Psychology Lead for Medium secure services in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Please note, due to the workshop-style delivery of this training, it will not be recorded, so you will need to attend live on the day of the event.
Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite. Ticket prices are variable (please pay as you are able):
£25 (e.g. employed professional/government/academic/large organisation)
£10 (e.g. employed by a small charity)
Free (e.g. student/volunteer/don’t have the resources to pay for a ticket)
What practical next steps can be taken to move towards greater use and embedding of restorative approaches within the police force in the UK? In light of recent high profile cases of police misconduct, how can the police force respond restoratively?
Join us as we explore the use of restorative approaches to improve external police relations (e.g. between police and the community) and internal police relations (e.g. grievances, team dynamics).
Dr Kerry Clamp will bring insights from research and academia and Paul Mukasa will share ideas based on his extensive practitioner experience, including work on a project to improve relations between the police and young people.
We will end the event with an opportunity for questions and discussion.
This online event will be held on Zoom. You can register on Eventbrite, with variable ticket prices available. Please pay as you are able so that we have the resources to continue to hold these types of events:
£10 (e.g. employed professional/government/academic/large organisation)
£5 (e.g. employed by a small charity)
Free (e.g. student/volunteer/don’t have the resources to pay for a ticket)
There have been many attempts to incorporate restorative justice into prison settings in the UK, with some success in privately run prisons and by restorative justice charities and service providers running programmes within HM Prisons. However, the use of restorative justice in HM Prisons is not widespread and has had mixed or limited success.
Join us as we explore the question 'What next steps in terms of policy and practice are required in order to embed/mainstream restorative justice into HM Prisons?'.
We will be exploring this topic in a ‘fishbowl conversation’ format where an ‘inner circle’ of conversationalists will discuss the topic, observed by attendees in an ‘outer circle’. Attendees are encouraged to join the inner circle to discuss the topic if they feel they have something to contribute. We hope it will be an engaging and organic conversation to explore ways forward.
Starting off the discussion as the inner circle of conversationalists will be:
Geoff Emerson (former Senior Probation Officer and current Mint House Trustee)
Jim Simon (CEO at RJC)
Sam Warman (Head of Programmes at Belong)
Shirl Tanner (CEO at Sussex Pathways)
This online event will be held on Zoom. You can register on Eventbrite, with variable ticket prices available. Please pay as you are able so that we have the resources to continue to hold these types of events:
£10 (e.g. employed professional/government/academic/large organisation)
£5 (e.g. employed by a small charity)
Free (e.g. student/volunteer/don’t have the resources to pay for a ticket)
This event will explore the role of empathy in restorative justice processes. How can developing and experiencing empathy affect how people engage in restorative work? Can empathy help people on both sides of a conflict understand the experiences and needs of the other? What difference does it make?
We will explore these questions by listening to the perspectives of three panel members with a variety of expertise in restorative justice. Wesley Grinham has lived experience of restorative justice and the criminal justice system, Kimia Saadatian studies issues surrounding punishment and empathy, and Pete Wallis is a senior practitioner and trainer in restorative justice.
Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and engage in discussion with the panel members as we think about this topic together.
This event will be held online via Zoom. Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite. Ticket prices are variable – please pay as you are able so that we have the resources to continue to hold these types of events:
£10 (e.g. employed professional/government/academic/large organisation)
£5 (e.g. employed by a small charity)
Free (e.g. student/volunteer/don’t have the resources to pay for a ticket)
A key challenge today — in church and in society — is to reduce the noise, and learn afresh how to listen and converse well.
This in-person workshop, designed with church congregations in mind, builds on the way restorative justice resonates strongly with biblical values.
It will be an opportunity for those in leadership and active in church life to develop restorative conversation skills, enabling members to be honest, listen deeply, and speak freely without fear. A time of learning to reach good outcomes, if not agreement, rather than foster grievance.
The 26-27th of November marks the end of national Restorative Justice week 2022 (#RJWeek). New Road Baptist Church in partnership with The Mint House will co-host these two events, facilitated by special guests, Tom and Shona Shaw who work and minister in Leeds.
WORKSHOP 14.00 - 17.00 // Saturday, November 26
Explores restorative conversation skills and introducing ways to prevent conflict and resolve disagreement using restorative practices. Cost £5. Booking essential!
WORSHIP 10.30 -11.30 // Sunday, November 27
A public event and no prior registration is needed.
RJC CPD Approved Event
Restorative practice is all about relationships; building relationships, maintaining relationships, and repairing relationships when things go wrong. The approach is based on a set of values, skills and processes that can help when people are communicating with one another.
Having its origins in the criminal justice context where quite rigid scripts were used for facilitating rather formal ‘restorative conferences’ between people who caused and were harmed by crime, restorative practice has become more and more widespread outside the criminal sphere. The approach has been found helpful in contexts ranging from staff conflict, schools, social care, mental health, neighbourhoods – in fact anywhere involving humans in relationship. It is also continuously evolving as practitioners try out new ideas.
This two-hour knowledge sharing and learning event will provide an opportunity to reflect on restorative conversation skills, learn about creative activities for exploring restorative themes, and share ideas with others. It is open to anyone wanting to add to their personal toolkit of resources.
This event may be of particular interest to:
Teachers and school staff
Restorative practitioners
Community workers
Social workers
Support workers
Prison staff
Faith leaders
University staff
We will:
introduce practical resources, tools, frameworks, and creative activities that can be used to cover the five restorative themes
provide space for participants to share their own experiences and ideas in breakout rooms with others
facilitate a discussion on creative ways to support restorative conversations
The event will be led by Pete Wallis and Jo Brown, two experienced restorative practitioners.
(Please note, this is not a practitioner training course and is not intended on its own to prepare you to facilitate restorative justice conferences)
This event has been approved as a CPD event by the Restorative Justice Council (approval reference RJCMH231122).
Tickets can be booked on Eventbrite. Ticket prices are variable (please pay as you are able):
£25 (e.g. employed professional/government/academic/large organisation)
£10 (e.g. employed by a small charity)
Free (e.g. student/volunteer/don’t have the resources to pay for a ticket)
For workshops and training opportunities, please see our Workshops & Training page
Event recordings, where available, can be found on the individual event pages below and on our Event Recordings resources page:
Sargeant Sandra Smith and Samantha Alexander (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire Women of Colour in Policing Movement) will share their success in running listening circles with police and marginalised groups, specifically women and girls from minority groups who have been affected by male violence against women and girls.
Sandra and Samantha will discuss how to use circles to foster dialogue and create better relationships between marginalised groups and the police, including the steps they took to ensure that the circles worked well and were a safe space for the people involved to talk about their lived experiences. They will also share what they have learned through the process and the impact the circles have had on relationships, police policy and culture, and the women involved.
Please note: this event will not be recorded due to the sensitivity of the work being discussed.
Wild Goose Theatre have kindly allowed us to sell tickets to a preview performance of Much Ado About Nothing and for the proceeds to go to The Mint House. Come along to enjoy this fun Shakespeare play with us and support The Mint House!
Tickets are £5 and can be bought online (recommended) or on the door.
Join us at this one day online conference as we explore what it means to be a relational and restorative organisation and practical ways to embed restorative approaches in our culture and ways of working. We will think about what this means for us as individuals and how we can influence our organisations to be more relational.
The format will be varied and interactive, including presentations, breakout room discussions, conversations with experts, and opportunities to reflect on and share learning.
This conference has CPD Approval from the Restorative Justice Council.
Conference registration now open! Early Bird ticket deadline has been extended to the 4th of June!
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
Margaret Thorsborne and Joe Brummer will discuss how individual educators can bring trauma informed restorative practice into their day-to-day work.
Margaret and Joe will share theory and research from their book Becoming a Trauma-informed Restorative Educator: Practical Skills to Change Culture and Behaviour, including insights from neuroscience and theories about shame.
Claudia Christen-Schneider will be speaking on her book Trauma-Informed Restorative Dialogues: The Power of Community which discusses the integration of trauma-informed practice with restorative justice. The event will be hosted by Dr Kerry Clamp, the editor of the book series Contemporary Issues In Restorative Practice.
Join us to discuss the topics covered in our Reflection Aids for Restorative Leaders as we share with each other what we have learned so far about embedding restorative practice and think about what’s next. The knowledge sharing event will be interactive and give you an opportunity to not only engage with the themes in the reflection aids but also build bridges with others by sharing your thoughts, experiences, and learning, and listen to others.
A 2-hour CPD training event designed to help practitioners consider the underlying heuristic biases which may impact restorative work.
The event will be hosted by Dr Kathryn Rowsell, a registered and chartered Forensic Psychologist and a Trustee of The Mint House. Joining Dr Rowsell will be Richard Barker, a Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist and Psychology Lead for Medium secure services in Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Listening circles provide an opportunity for us to stop and listen in a culture which can be fast-paced and self-centred. Circles can take different formats, but listening circles are powerful in their invitation to listen deeply to the thoughts and experiences of others and connect us to shared understanding and knowing. Join us as we explore the use of listening circles with examples from women's circles and nature circles.
Mel Wiggins MBE will share her experience of running women’s circles. She was first trained in circle facilitation as a restorative justice practitioner and decided to bring her skills and this approach to her coaching and community building work supporting women. Mel runs day-long events where women gather to participate in circle, intentionally making space for listening to one another. Mel will share the ethos behind her work and what she has learned from holding space for people to be heard and known.
Helen Edwards is new to circles and restorative practice, and has recently organised circles on a local nature reserve as part of her work as Chair of Oxford Urban Wildlife Group. Helen will share what drew her to circles and how circles can facilitate interconnectedness with nature and each other.
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this recent initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
How can Local Authorities and others encourage the use of relational and restorative practice in their schools? How has this successfully been done in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Portsmouth? What theory and research underpin this work? What are the benefits of this approach?
We will share how relational practice in schools has evolved over time and been successfully implemented in schools in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Portsmouth through the development of the Relational and Restorative School Leadership Programme, supported by The Restorative Lab.
Bec Mason (Portsmouth City Council), Clare Pike (Oxfordshire County Council), Laura East (Oxfordshire County Council), and Molly Macleod (Gloucestershire County Council) will share stories and examples of how relational and restorative practices have been used in schools in their areas.
Dr Anna Gregory (The Restorative Lab) will present the ethos and framework behind this exciting programme including the evolution of theory and practice informed by research.
What needs and challenges are involved in adapting restorative justice in environmental cases? How has restorative justice been used in cases involving environmental harm?
We are excited to welcome Professor Ivo Aertsen and Lawrence Kershen KC for a dialogue between theory and practice in environmental restorative justice. Ivo Aertsen will introduce the topic for us, including how restorative justice can be adapted in cases of environmental harm and some of the needs and challenges involved. Lawrence Kershen will share his experiences as a facilitator and lawyer to reflect on how environmental restorative justice happens in practice.
Meeting in a 3 acre reserve in the midst of the city we invite you to join this new initiative to develop the use of restorative practice in nature and community.
“All of Us” follows a family fractured and torn apart by violence and incarceration. As one family member comes to the end of their prison sentence, each of them explores how to move on and heal.
The film screening of the play will be followed by a live Q&A with Rebecca Abrams (playwright), Miranda Warner (producer and actor), and others.
Wild Goose Theatre have kindly allowed us to sell tickets to their dress rehearsal of "Twelfth Night" and for the proceeds to go to The Mint House. Come along to enjoy this fun Shakespeare play and support The Mint House!
The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government 2018-19 included a commitment to having ‘RJ services widely available across Scotland ... with the interests of victims at their heart.’ The vision wishes RJ to be made available to all who wish to access it at a time appropriate to the people and case involved. But this will necessarily be a long journey.
We’re delighted that Professor Joanna Shapland and Ashley Scotland have agreed to lead a session outlining Scotland’s journey so far and how this may relate to the experience of some other countries.
Interested in finding out how restorative practice needs to continue to evolve to make the most of its reforming potential? We're delighted to welcome David Moore & Alikki Vernon on April 24th from 12noon to share insights from their new book.
We would love for you to join us for our fundraising quiz night on Thursday 23rd November at New Road Baptist Church (Oxford OX1 1LQ) starting at 7pm.
Hear about the shared learning from ongoing work to grow a restorative just culture at the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Hear the story of Norfolk’s journey to embed restorative practice, followed by time for questions and discussion.
Join the Restorative Parenting Network Gathering on Wednesday 20th September at 4pm-5pm GMT on Zoom.
