Restorative Justice reaches a new audience
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator Keeva Baxter.
Why me? are delighted to have shared our BBC Radio 4 charity appeal during the week beginning the 9th of July. The appeal has helped to raise awareness of the power of Restorative Justice, gathering support amongst a new audience and educating those who may need it.
We are extremely grateful for the generosity and support shown by our networks and the Radio 4 audience. The Radio 4 charity appeals reach an average of 1.8 million listeners per week. We are enthused by the reaction to our appeal – including an increase in enquiries for Restorative Justice – and are excited to have had the opportunity to promote Restorative Justice on such a large platform.
We want to extend a huge thank you to our patron Mel Giedroyc, the TV presenter and actor who, following years of support for Why me?, presented our appeal for us. Mel recorded the appeal in the BBC studios, supported by our Fundraising and PR Officer Lucy Harris. Mel’s passion for Restorative Justice and desire to achieve wider access to it was apparent in the appeal and her telling of Janika’s story. We hope it brought a familiar voice to a concept that may have been new to some listeners. As our patron, Mel continues to support our work, aiming to promote access to Restorative Justice for everyone affected by crime.
We also want to thank our ambassador Janika for sharing her story. We hope that Janika’s experience will resonate with listeners who may have experienced crime themselves or been indirectly affected by it. It is crucial to get the message out, to ensure that as many people as possible are aware that the option exists. Janika’s story also demonstrates to listeners that Restorative Justice can be used in more serious and complex cases, such as domestic violence, which is often seen as unsuitable for Restorative Justice.
We know that one of the primary barriers is people not knowing about Restorative Justice and its benefits, with under 6% of victims remembering being offered it. So, by discussing Restorative Justice on such a large platform we hope this appeal has made progress toward widening access to Restorative Justice.
Thank you to everyone who shared or donated to our appeal, we really appreciate your support. You can still listen to the appeal and donate to help us continue to support people affected by crime.