Restorative Justice Action Plan 2019 - 23
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Quarterly Report
1st April - 30th June 2025
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This report updates on the progress and delivery of the Restorative Justice (RJ) Action Plan for the reporting period of 1 April - 30 June 2025. An annual report for the period 1 April 2024 - 31 March 2025 is available here. All previous quarterly and annual reports are available on the CJS Learning Hub.
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Outcome 1: Restorative Justice is available across Scotland
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Progress
The Policy and Practice Framework Document
Final comments on the draft document were reviewed by the Scottish Government in the previous quarter. While the deliverable is now considered complete, work is currently underway to finalise the design in two formats and to ensure both versions meet the accessibility requirements in line with accessibility standards set by the Scottish Government. Publication is scheduled for summer 2025.
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Restorative Justice Test Cases
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The Scottish Government has provided funding to Community Justice Scotland (CJS) and Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ) to deliver the Restorative Justice (RJ) Test Case Project. Through this project, we aim to learn from existing RJ services to better understand how RJ is currently operating and how this learning can inform wider service development across Scotland.
Work in this quarter included ongoing engagement with RJ providers from both statutory and third sectors. We planned and conducted interviews with RJ facilitators involved in the project to collect data for analysis. The interviews explored how test case providers have navigated information sharing, risk management, partnership working and tailoring of services to meet the needs of individuals.
CJS and CYCJ have continued to liaise with Thriving Survivors to support their contribution to the project. Both organisations have also maintained collaboration with the research analyst commissioned to support data analysis and reporting.
In the next quarter, CJS and CYCJ will focus on data analysis and presentation of the findings in a report to the Scottish Government, to be submitted by October 2025.
Restorative Justice Development Forum
The first Restorative Justice Development Forum’s meeting took place on 6 May 2025. This bi-monthly forum is organised and chaired by CJS and CYCJ. It aims to provide a space for those in a leadership role from both statutory and voluntary sectors across Scotland to exchange knowledge and practice regarding the development of Restorative Justice in their local areas. The forum has a particular focus on overcoming challenges and barriers. Over 50 people from across Scotland have registered for the forum, with 24 individuals attending, including representatives from twelve local authorities, as well as wider organisational and voluntary sectors partners. The inaugural forum focused on discussions around the purpose and priorities as well as how it should be structured going forward.
The next forum meetings will take place on 5 August and 7 October 2025.
If you would like to join the forum please contact Laura.Orrlie@communityjustice.scot or Lauren.Emmerson@strath.ac.uk
Restorative Justice Service Directory
Work to develop a national directory of RJ service providers for adults and children in Scotland has developed in this quarter. This included CJS and CYCJ co-authoring a paper outlining stakeholder demand. The paper informed a consultation exercise with the Restorative Justice Forum Scotland, chaired by Professor Joanna Shapland. The outcome of the meeting in June was to form a Short Life Advisory Group to support collaborative development of the directory.
Stakeholder Engagement
CJS and CYCJ have continued to raise awareness of RJ across Scotland through targeted engagement with local authorities, third sector organisations, and a range of national and international stakeholders.
Following on from work in the previous quarter, which had focused on supporting orientation of Victim Support Scotland (VSS) colleagues, CYCJ has become a stakeholder in the VSS-led project work to develop a Single Point of Contact (SPOC) Service. This service will be designed for adults and children affected by the criminal or offending behaviour of children in conflict with the law who are referred to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), in line with requirements of the Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act 2024. CYCJ attended a mapping workshop on 2 April, followed by a ‘Blue-Printing’ event on 9 June, and has provided inputs to thinking about development of this work within wider systemic needs and structures affecting children harmed by children, as well as promoting the rights and needs of children in conflict with the law. This work has also supported consideration of the role of Restorative Justice within development of the SPOC.
CJS continued to support the Edinburgh Hate Crime and Restorative Justice Project as part of its capacity building work across the sector. The team consists of Justice Social Workers from the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland and Victim Support Scotland, meeting bi-monthly to discuss awareness raising about the project, administrative issues, requests for RJ and ongoing cases.
CJS also met with the Highland Community Justice Partnership (CJP) to explore involvement in an upcoming awareness raising event taking place in September. Further details available online: Restorative Justice: Exploring a Highland model. Subsequently, CJS engaged with the Geese theatre company who will be performing at the event, to provide additional context on restorative justice in Scotland. This input will help inform the development of their stage performance. CYCJ and CJS will jointly present at the event to frame the development work locally within the wider national context.
In May, CYCJ presented at the 13th International Seminar of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, held in Athens, Greece. The seminar, titled Crossing Borders – Building Futures: Restorative Justice for Children and Young People on the Move, provided valuable international networking and knowledge exchange opportunities as well as highlighted to the audience recent policy and legislative developments in Scotland, shaped by a growing focus on the needs of the country’s most vulnerable children and the Scottish Government’s commitment to a rights-respecting approach to childhood. CYCJ’s workshop explored how Scotland’s incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and key aspects from the 2020 Independent Care Review are advancing more child-friendly justice in Scotland. More information available in the Stakeholder Spotlight section.
During the annual National Youth Justice Conference in June, CYCJ provided a lightning talk at the final plenary session highlighting the importance of restorative justice practice in healing the harm caused when children are in conflict with the law. This was well received and prompted good discussion and questions from the audience acknowledging the importance of this work. Both CYCJ and CJS also hosted an information stall on restorative justice, sharing information booklets and a call out for joining the RJ Development Forum.
Following several conference contributions this quarter, CYCJ published a reflective blog capturing key insights and messages, titled You might not yet know the question… but the answer is probably restorative justice. In addition, CJS contributed a blog to the Prison Fellowship Scotland in April, highlighting the transformative power of restorative justice: More Than a Process: The Life-Changing Potential of Restorative Justice — Prison Fellowship.
Both CJS and CYCJ continue to attend the Scottish Network for Restorative Justice Researchers (SNRJR) meetings and support their work. In June, the meeting focused on planning a webinar on Trauma-Informed RJ for later in the year.
CYCJ has begun planning an event titled Restorative Justice in Scotland: A Day of Reflection, Learning and Action, with a Focus on Children and Young People, scheduled to take place on 18 November 2025 as part of Restorative Justice Awareness Week. During this quarter, CYCJ met and will continue collaboration with Scottish Government colleagues to ensure the event’s aims and focus align with strategic priorities. The event will provide a platform for key leaders and stakeholders across Scotland to reflect on progress, share learning, and maximise opportunities to co-produce next steps for overcoming barriers to ensuring RJ is available to all, with a focus on children and young people.
Restorative Justice Team Update
Following a recent organisational restructure at Community Justice Scotland, a new Head of Operations for Projects has been appointed. As part of this change, Hannah Dickson has taken on the role of Head of Restorative Justice, succeeding Gemma Fraser.
International Collaboration - European Forum for Restorative Justice
CJS continues to contribute to Forum’s Training Committee, Communications Committee and the Gender-Based Violence Working Group. This international engagement brings learning, knowledge exchange, and visibility of Scotland’s work within the wider restorative justice field.
In this quarter, the Training Committee (chaired by CJS) has finished writing an RJ Training the Trainer manual and Standards for RJ Trainers document. The Communications Committee worked on the Communications Strategy and plans for awareness raising and communication activities during Restorative Justice Week in November and the International Human Rights Day in December.
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Outcome 2: Restorative Justice is delivered by highly trained and skilled facilitators
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Progress
Restorative Justice Practitioners' Network
CJS continues to chair the Scottish Restorative Justice Practitioners’ Network which is open to current restorative justice practitioners, those awaiting training or practice opportunities, and individuals with a general interest in restorative justice. A meeting on 12 May focused on a general discussion about RJ and Family Group Conferencing.
The next meeting will take place on 14 August 2025 and will discuss partnership working and risk assessment. If you would like to take part, please contact
Gael.Cochrane@communityjustice.scot.
In addition, CYCJ has continued to respond to requests and enquiries from practitioners, providing signposting to the RJ Practitioners’ Network as well as relevant training and practice opportunities available across Scotland.
Tools and Knowledge Sharing around Restorative Practices
CYCJ continues to chair the bi-monthly Restorative Approaches Group, which includes regular participation from YouthLink Scotland, CJS, and the Violence Reduction Unit. The group serves as a platform for sharing resources, identifying gaps in practice, exploring collaborative opportunities, and advancing a consistent and structured approach to restorative practices across Scotland.
At the meeting held on 18 June, members contributed to the development of a joint resource compiling available training and materials related to restorative practices across the country. A prototype of this resource is currently in development and will be reviewed in greater detail at an in-person event scheduled for 23 July. Additionally, the group is planning to deliver a webinar on restorative approaches work taking place in schools during Restorative Justice Awareness Week in November 2025.
Restorative Justice Online Learning Module
The RJ Learning Module has been developed by CJS for frontline, operational staff on Restorative Justice. The content was written by Prof Tim Chapman and Tania Nascimento, designed to offer a basic introduction to and overview of Restorative Justice.
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The module is available for stakeholders and the public and can be accessed via both the RJ Learning Hub and Resources section on CJS website.
Community Dialogue and Interfaith Collaboration on Restorative Justice
In June, Community Justice Scotland met with the Centre for Good Relations to explore areas of shared interest, particularly the intersections between community mediation and potential restorative justice work. The discussion focused on opportunities for collaboration to promote community dialogue around sectarian issues in Glasgow. A follow-up meeting is planned to continue discussions regarding a potential joint event.
As part of the Interfaith Restorative Justice Project, in which CJS participated to train RJ facilitators and establish community listening circles in Glasgow, the project partners Faith & Belief Forum, Interfaith Glasgow, and charity Why Me? published a report. It explores project work findings, along with broader research into the ways individuals and communities across the UK responded to and were affected by the summer 2024 unrest. Read the full publication: UK Summer Riots: Restorative Responses & Interfaith Instincts.
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Outcome 3: There is a public awareness and understanding of Restorative Justice across Scotland
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Progress
Restorative Justice Image Library
As part of the ongoing work to raise public awareness and improving understanding of restorative justice, CJS updated the digital Restorative Justice Image Bank with a more representative collection of images that authentically reflect the principles and processes of RJ. We aimed to capture realistic scenarios as well as broader concepts of harm, repair, and reintegration, ensuring meaningful representation of communities RJ services serve. The Flickr RJ image library is accessible for both stakeholders and public use, and will be a valuable resource in strengthening RJ messaging with relevant and high-quality visuals.
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Restorative Justice and Educational Inputs
In efforts to enhance conflict resolution and support difficult conversations at Northfield Academy in Aberdeen, Community Justice Scotland, alongside partners from CYCJ and Education Scotland, have been meeting with the school and looking for ways to support their restorative practices. Following a workshop led by CJS on restorative language and conversations to school staff, CJS and CYCJ have delivered part one (first 2 days) of the RJ facilitator’s training to 10 teachers in May. The second part of the training will take place in the last week of August.
Awareness-Raising with Lived Experience Voices
CYCJ conducted a focus group at Polmont with a group of young men who had experience of both causing and experiencing harm. The session aimed to explore their awareness of restorative justice, including the awareness of their parents, carers, and families, to identify barriers to engagement with RJ, and to gather ideas on the most effective ways to capture the views of both those harmed and those responsible for harm, about RJ.
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Stakeholder Spotlight
Pamela Morrison and Lauren Emmerson from CYCJ (second and third from the left)
Crossing Borders-Building Futures: Restorative Justice for Children and Young People on the Move:
Reflections of Lauren Emmerson (CYCJ)
The 13th International Seminar of the European Forum for Restorative Justice (EFRJ) was held in Athens, Greece, on 16-17 May 2025. This year’s focus centred on the transformative potential of restorative justice and restorative practices in addressing the complex vulnerabilities experienced by children and young people on the move, while creating inclusive spaces for dialogue and mutual understanding with host communities and institutions.
Representing Children and Young People’s Centre for Justice (CYCJ), Lauren Emmerson and Pamela Morrison delivered a workshop focusing on the experiences and needs of children deprived of their liberty on the move in Scotland; in particular, children from across the border – England and Wales – placed in Scotland’s secure care centres.
Following the event, Lauren Emmerson reflected on her learning and insights from the seminar in a blog post, which also revisits key themes from their workshop. Read the blog following this link: Reflecting on the 13th International Seminar of the European Forum for Restorative Justice.
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Restorative Justice Animation
Use this animation of Restorative Justice in Scotland to help raise awareness.
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Useful documents
Click the button below for useful information about Restorative Justice: research papers, reports and other documents, guidance and toolkits, signposting to other websites.
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Stakeholder Feedback Form
Click the button below to complete the form we are currently testing for communication with stakeholders. Please note, you may communicate anonymously, no personal details are required.
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