Double success for Leeds at national restorative practice awards

Leeds City Council’s children’s services and students from Carr Manor Community School have both been recognised for their restorative approach to resolving issues and improving children’s lives.

The council’s ‘Family Valued’ programme was awarded for its cutting edge work using restorative practices to help families find their own solutions to the difficulties they face in order to safely and appropriately reduce the need for social care intervention. Pupils from Carr Manor community school were hailed as ‘young heroes’ for their work to implement restorative practice in to school life.

The national awards, hosted by Restorative Practice UK, showcase best practice throughout employment, education, community settings and the criminal justice sector to demonstrate what can be achieved and to inspire others to take a restorative approach. The awards recognise individuals and organisations who are leading the way in demonstrating how and why restorative practices can be used to transform people’s lives.

As part of the council’s Family Valued programme, over 4000 people have been trained in restorative practice techniques to enable them to use this approach with the children and families they are working with and also within their own organisation.

This programme also includes the development of a comprehensive Family Group Conference service to ensure that families are supported to find their own solutions to their difficulties by working with local professionals.

The result of the ‘Family Valued’ work is that throughout the city, children, young people and families have benefitted from a growing culture of restorative practice, whilst colleagues from a number of different disciplines have profited from the training and practice of restorative practice.

The Young Heroes Award was presented to 11 Carr Manor Community School students. The award recognises young people under 21 who have overcome adversity and now offer support to others for the greater good of the community.

Since its introduction to Carr Manor in 2012, restorative practices have helped to reduce absence and have had a significant and positive impact on learning and relationships across the school.

Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, executive member for children and families said:

“Restorative practice has become an integral part of ‘how we do things’ here in Leeds, so it is fantastic that this approach has been recognised through these two awards.

“We strongly believe that by working with children, young people and families - as opposed to doing things ‘for’ or ‘to’ them - we can help bring about real changes and real improvements in people’s lives.

“Carr Manor has really embraced the culture of restorative practice and is beginning to see real differences in attendance and attainment, so this award is well and truly deserved.”

Senior Assistant Principal, Carr Manor Community School, Sarah Holdsworth said:

“What a fantastic achievement and experience for the pupils who were winners of the ‘Young Heroes Award’. We are very proud of all of our pupils at Carr Manor and of the 11 nominees who accepted the award on behalf of their peers and the school.”

Geoff Baxter OBE, CEO at Restorative Practice UK, tweeted his support:

“The pupils from @carr_manor were an absolute delight and a massive credit to themselves, their parents and school, thank you for joining us!”

Notes to editors:

The photograph shows Carr Manor pupils at the Restorative Practice UK Awards with Andy Lloyd, Nigel Richardson, Sue Rumbold and Saleem Tariq from Leeds City Council’s children’s services.

’Family Valued’ is an innovative programme of investment that aims to embed a family centred way of working across services in Leeds and particularly in the relationship between the children’s social work service and the most vulnerable children and young people. It is underpinned by investment of £4.85m from the Department for Education’s Innovation Fund, which was established to support innovation in the children’s social care system.

For further information regarding Carr Manor Community School, please contact the Communications Officer, Abigail Ramsey on 0113 3368400 / email ramseya01@carrmanor.org.uk