News
Prison isn’t working for women, says Justice Secretary
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Last week, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood, declared that prisons are not working for women. In order to reduce the number of women who are incarcerated, and ultimately cut the number of women’s prisons, she introduced a […]
Victims of crime failed by the justice system
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Last month, the Victims’ Commissioner published the results of her annual Victims’ Survey. Based on the voices of 3,048 victims of crime across England and Wales, the report explores victims’ experiences with and perceptions of the Criminal Justice System over the past […]
Healing community harm: reflections from the sector
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Last week, Why me? ran a forum, “Healing Community Harm”, bringing the sector together to discuss how we can use restorative interventions to address the widespread harm caused by the racist and Islamophobic violence in early August. Attendees spoke of the different […]
The voices of Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Restorative Justice is a personal process, tailored to the needs of the people taking part. Because of this, it looks different for everyone, both in process and outcome. Hearing the testimonies of people who have been through it is the only way […]
“I am stuck in prison with no way out”: The institutional harm of IPP sentences
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. What are IPP sentences and what damage are they causing? In 2005, the Labour Government introduced the ‘Imprisonment for Public Protection’ sentence as part of their tough on crime approach. Under an IPP sentence, prisoners had no set date for their release. Instead, […]
Making sense of the early release scheme: The role of Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. In July, in response to a prison capacity crisis which saw prisons routinely operating at above 99% capacity, the newly appointed Lord Chancellor, Shabana Mahmood, announced urgent changes to the early release scheme for people serving standard determinate sentences. In order to […]
A Restorative Justice response to far-right violence
This is a blog by our Deputy CEO, Kate Aldous. I watched with horror as the recent anti-immigration and racist violence spread across the country, and then with very mixed feelings, the Government’s harsh crackdown. I wanted this frightening and hate-filled behaviour to stop – and I am greatly relieved it has. But I […]
Finding a new path through Restorative Justice
This is a guest blog by Rory Sloan, Founder and Managing Director of ResoluteM;nds. Rory shares his story of substance abuse, mental health struggles, crime, and eventually rehabilitation through the power of Restorative Justice. I struggled with substance abuse and severe mental health issues from the age of 14. As I grew up, I […]
What is environmental Restorative Justice?
This is a guest blog written by Prof. (Dr.) Sairam Bhat and Vikas Gahlot. Dr. Sairam Bhat is Professor of Law at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. Mr. Vikas Gahlot is Senior Research Associate at the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru. This blog explores how Restorative Justice can be used […]
Why me? on set and in the studio!
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. It’s been an exciting few weeks at Why me?! We have been on set and in the studio, recording Series 2 of Restorative Talks and producing a short film. One of the biggest challenges we face as an organisation is the lack […]
Join the Why me? Board of Trustees!
Are you passionate about Restorative Justice? Do you want to make a difference? With a new CEO in post and a strategy review underway, Why me? is looking for three new Trustees to join our Board, helping to guide and support our small but passionate charity. We are especially interested in people who have experience in […]
Maximising access to Restorative Justice: 10 Asks for PCCs
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. This week Why me? is publishing our 2024 ‘10 Asks’ campaign, outlining ten key steps that Police and Crime Commissioners across England and Wales can take to ensure that Restorative Justice is safe and accessible in their area. Our pre-election pledge campaign […]
Making a difference to Why me? through fundraising
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Over the past few years, small charities across the country have felt the strain on fundraising that arose through the pandemic and has continued through the cost of living crisis. This dramatic change in the fundraising landscape has left many organisations with […]
Journey not destination: The importance of process in Restorative Justice
This is a guest blog by Daniel Cunningham, Restorative Justice Lead at Victim First (Catch 22). Across the Restorative Justice (RJ) sector there is often a strong focus on outcomes: Was there a dialogue? Was there a meeting? Was there shuttle mediation? Restorative processes and practices must be designed around what people affected by […]
Working restoratively with young people
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. July has been an exciting month of events here at Why me?! We held our bimonthly forum and a launch event for our new report on using restorative practices in Alternative Provision settings. Both events explored how restorative approaches can be implemented […]
My journey to Restorative Justice
This is a blog by Cheryl Jacob, newly recruited Team Administrator at Why me?. I found the recent job posting for Team Administrator at Why me? at an incredibly opportune time in my life. I had decided on a change of career and was intent on finding work in an organisation that was determined […]
A chance for change: Tackling the prisons crisis under the new Government
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Last week, a new Parliament was formed as Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, took over as Prime Minister. With the first Labour Government in 14 years, this marks a momentous opportunity to bring about change across the country. In this blog, we […]
Why me? at Glastonbury!
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. At the end of June, Why me? was excited to attend Glastonbury Festival to spread the word about Restorative Justice on the Left Field stage! Our wonderful ambassador, Janika, attended on behalf of Why me? to join a panel of criminal justice […]
Restorative Justice and religion
This is a blog by our Training and Service Coordinator, Mark Hamill. Restorative Justice owes a debt to religion. Many of those who first articulated the concept of Restorative Justice in the mid to late 20th century drew inspiration from religion as well as indigenous traditions. Howard Zehr, widely known as ‘the grandfather of […]
Survivor-centred justice for sexual and domestic violence
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. It is now well established that for survivors of domestic violence or sexual abuse, accessing ‘justice’ is even harder than for victims of other crimes. The backlog of rape cases means that over 3,000 people are still waiting for their cases to […]
A Restorative Justice Safety Net
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Did you know that Why me? run a safety net Restorative Justice service, taking on cases that local services can’t? Restorative Justice services across the UK do incredible work, helping people affected by crime to be heard and to access the resources […]
Campaigning for change during the General Election
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Last week, major political parties released their manifestos in advance of the General Election on the 4th of July. The manifestos outline their key priorities and the actions they intend to take, should they be elected next month. Each of the parties […]
Safety and mitigating risk in Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Training and Service Coordinator, Mark Hamill, in collaboration with Professor Joanna Shapland. Joanna Shapland is Edward Bramley Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Sheffield. Her contributions to Restorative Justice have been significant and varied, including directing the national evaluation of Restorative Justice in England & Wales. […]
LGBTQ+ people in the Criminal Justice System: Reflections during Pride Month
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Happy Pride Month from all of us at Why me?! June is a time of celebration and joy, but it should also be a moment to take stock of the ongoing challenges that LGBTQ+ people face both within and outside of the […]
Celebrating one year at Why me?
This is a blog by our Deputy CEO, Kate Aldous. It’s now been over a year since I started working at Why me? – so a good time to pause and reflect on how it’s going and where we are. I have learnt more about Restorative Justice, and seen more evidence of its power […]
The power of Restorative Justice on stage
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Punch, a moving play about the power of Restorative Justice, is running at the Nottingham Playhouse until 25th May. The production has been an overwhelming success, garnering national media attention and completely selling out. The play was written by James Graham, a celebrated […]
General Election 2024: What does this mean for Restorative Justice?
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Update: The Victims and Prisoners Bill was granted Royal Assent on 24th May has therefore become the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024. More information can be found here. This week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak requested that the current Parliament be dissolved on the […]
Interfaith project kicks off in Glasgow
This is a blog by our Restorative Justice Trainer and Service Coordinator, Mark Hamill. At the start of this month, Mark Hamill, our newly-appointed Training and Service Coordinator, and Deputy CEO, Kate Aldous, led Restorative Justice training across two days for our interfaith project partners, The Faith and Belief Forum and Interfaith Glasgow. The […]
A Child First approach to Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our new Restorative Justice Trainer and Service Coordinator, Mark Hamill. You can read more about Mark on our ‘Meet the Team’ page here. Child First is the title given to the four evidence-based principles that inform current practice in Youth Justice in England and Wales. Originating from research undertaken […]
Reframing Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter, co-posted with The Mint House. Why me? want to see a world where people affected by crime know what Restorative Justice is, know how to access it and can readily explore whether it might be suitable for them with a trained expert. […]
Restorative Justice billboards spotted across the UK!
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Last week, Why me? launched a national billboard campaign promoting Restorative Justice in partnership with the JCDecaux Community Channel. We were blown away by the positive response from our community. Thank you to everyone who has spread the word and visited a billboard! If […]
What’s new at the Ministry of Justice?
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Updated on 15th April 2024. Parliament may be in recess, but Restorative Justice remains a strong political priority with momentum at a national level. Two recent developments from the Ministry of Justice have the potential to improve access and accountability, but only […]
Beyond Punishment: Young girls and Restorative Justice
This is a blog by Nikita Singh, an international journalism student at Cardiff University currently working on a project to understand the impact of Restorative Justice practices on women offenders. Despite the recent popularity of Restorative Justice within the Youth Justice System, a significant gap in research remains regarding the experiences of young girls […]
Have you seen Why me?’s Restorative Justice billboards?
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. Why me? are excited to announce the launch of a national billboard campaign promoting Restorative Justice in partnership with the JCDecaux Community Channel! There are four different designs which will appear on hundreds of billboards across major cities in the UK, running […]
Restorative Justice: A theoretical analysis
This is a blog by Evgenia Apostolou, a 1st year PhD Criminology researcher and PGR Academic Representative at Lancaster University. This blog explores how the categories of victimisation and its social approaches connect to Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice is a global pioneer in the fields of criminology and victimology, placing people and their wellbeing […]
Brianna Ghey: A meeting of mothers
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. After the violent murder of Brianna Ghey last year, Brianna’s mother, Esther, has now met with the mother of one of the teenagers who killed her daughter. This week, Esther Ghey was featured on Radio 4’s Today programme to speak about her […]
Why me?’s Restorative Justice Manifesto
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Why me? are excited to release our Restorative Justice manifesto, outlining the three key steps that need to be taken to ensure that people affected by crime can access Restorative Justice. At the moment, people affected by crime do not have access […]
Putting justice on the agenda for all women this International Women’s Day
This is a blog by Laura Cook, volunteer Communications Consultant with Women Beyond Walls, a global movement focused on ending the over-incarceration and over-criminalisation of women worldwide. Every year, as International Women’s Day approaches, our collective strides towards gender equality come into sharp focus. While we must acknowledge the progress made, the excessive imprisonment […]
A restorative approach to corporate harm
This is a blog by our Director, Lucy Jaffé. “Our hope now is that nobody else will die.” – Samantha May, The Infected Blood Inquiry, 4 March 2022 When there are announcements about state and corporate compensation for the Windrush, Grenfell, Post Office and Infected Blood victims, I am shocked at the un-restorative […]
New Chief Executive for Why me?
This is a blog by Why me?’s Director, Lucy Jaffé. We are very pleased to announce that Sara Dowling will be joining Why me? on the 18th March 2024. She will be heading up a dedicated, high calibre team of volunteers, ambassadors and staff. She brings an impressive portfolio of experience and will bring […]
Creative responses to LGBTQ+ hate crime
This is the second of two blogs on Why me?’s work on Restorative Justice for LGBTQ+ hate crime. This is a blog by our Deputy CEO, Kate Aldous. In the last blog, former Why me? staff member and expert Restorative Justice practitioner Linda Millington wrote about the growing levels of LGBTQ+ hate crime and […]
Refugees, asylum seekers and Restorative Justice
This is a blog by Dr Steve Kirkwood, Senior Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. His research areas include Restorative Justice, the response to refugees, and criminal justice social work. He is first author of the book, ‘The language of asylum: Refugees and discourse’, and his work has been published in […]
Increasing access to justice: The role of Restorative Justice for LGBTQ+ hate crime
This is a blog by Linda Millington, who was the manager of our LGBTQ+ hate crime project for four years. She has written the first of two blogs exploring our learning from this work. This blog explores why victims of LGBTQ+ hate crimes rarely access Restorative Justice and how this gap can be addressed. […]
A victim-centred approach to retail crime: Conference highlights
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. On Tuesday, 6th of February, Why me? hosted a unique event, bringing together representatives from the retail sector, the restorative sector and key decision-makers to discuss how Restorative Justice can be used to address the harm caused by retail crime. Retail crime […]
Saving money and rebuilding lives: The power of Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Director, Lucy Jaffé. What reduces crime, helps victim recovery and saves money from the public purse? Restorative Justice! I don’t say this lightly. It has taken years of academic research, delivery of casework by professional services and over a decade of consistent advocacy and campaigning work here at […]
The shared principles of harm reduction and Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius. I joined the team at the beginning of January, and it has been a whirlwind couple of weeks getting settled into the role and learning more about the work that Why me? does and how I fit in. When I was tasked […]
Cross-party support for Restorative Justice in House of Lords
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. Updated by Communications and Campaigns Officer, Isabelle Gius, on 2nd February 2024. On Wednesday, the Victims and Prisoners Bill went to the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. This means that the amendments tabled by Peers were discussed in Parliament. The […]
Interfaith Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Strategic Programmes Manager, Kate Aldous. Why me? is delighted to announce the start of a project exploring using Restorative Justice to address conflict between faiths and communities. This project will be led by the Faith and Belief Forum (F&BF), who will lead on work in Solihull, in partnership […]
The Victims and Prisoners Bill: Where are we and what’s next?
This is a blog by our Communications and Campaigns Manager, Keeva Baxter. The Victims and Prisoners Bill is a long awaited piece of legislation, aiming to strengthen the rights of victims of crime. It is an opportunity to ensure that Restorative Justice is more widely available, with enforceable rights that people affected by crime […]
We are hiring: Restorative Justice Trainer and Service Coordinator
Restorative Justice Trainer and Service Coordinator This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Restorative Justice (RJ) practitioner and trainer keen to be at the forefront of developing and enhancing RJ practice nationally. You will be part of a small and committed team in a leading RJ charity, working closely to deliver projects […]
What’s coming up in 2024?
Welcome to 2024! We have an exciting year planned of campaigning for and delivering high-quality Restorative Justice. In this blog, we explore some of Why me?’s upcoming plans, projects and aspirations for the year. New areas of work Violence in pupil referral units This year we will be working on a project exploring how restorative […]
The year in review: 2023 at Why me?
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Why me? and the wider restorative sector have had a very successful year of raising awareness, campaigning and supporting people affected by crime. This year has been challenging for the charity sector, with the cost of living crisis and a changing fundraising […]
Jamaica: Serious and Complex training to RJ staff, Victim Services and Child Diversion
This is a blog by Colette Selwood, a Restorative Justice and Safeguarding Trainer at Alpha1 Training and Consultancy Services. On 10th October for 4 days, Helen Lord, Thames Valley Restorative Justice Service, and I travelled to Jamaica to deliver Serious and Complex Restorative Justice training to the Restorative Justice, Victim Services and Child Diversion staff. […]
Reflections on Restorative Justice Week 2023
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Last week was Restorative Justice Week 2023! We had a fantastic week of networking, sharing ideas, building new connections and sparking challenging discussions. We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who took part, the combined voices of the restorative […]
5 ways you can support Why me?
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. It was #GivingTuesday this week, a time to celebrate generosity and support the charities that you value. We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who supports us, this week and throughout the year. Without you, we could not do […]
Listen now to ‘Restorative Talks’
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. It’s Restorative Justice Week! This week, Why me? are delighted to be launching our ‘Restorative Talks’ podcast series, which highlights the stories of people affected by crime, widens access to Restorative Justice and shares accurate information about the restorative process. The series is […]
Restorative Justice Week 2023: #RJWorks
This is a blog by our Director, Lucy Jaffé. This week we have focussed on how Restorative Justice works, where it works and for whom. What is so radical about Restorative Justice is that it transfers power to the people most involved in the crime or conflict so that they can decide how they […]
Time for change
This is a blog by our Director, Lucy Jaffé. It’s time for a change at Why me?. After 12 years with the charity, I have decided to stand down as Director. It has not been an easy decision to make as I love Why me? and our important work promoting Restorative Justice. I joined […]
Restorative Justice for young adults in prison and on probation
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. We all want young people to be able to lead productive, safe and healthy lives and we know it is important that they can access the resources they need throughout their journey to adulthood. We want to ensure that young people reach […]
Spinning the plates of Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Strategic Programmes Manager, Kate Aldous. I’ve been at Why me? for nearly six months already! So it’s a good time to pause and review. I have learnt a huge amount, largely about Restorative Justice and restorative practice, met some great people including Peter Woolf, practitioner Alex Hyatt, who […]
Lucy Jaffé receives Chris Donovan Award for Services to Restorative Justice!
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Last week, our Director, Lucy Jaffé, received her award for ‘Services to Restorative Justice’, from the Chris Donovan Trust. It was an honour to attend the awards ceremony which showcased a range of committed and passionate figures in the Restorative Justice and […]
We are hiring a Restorative Justice Trainer and Service Coordinator
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Restorative Justice (RJ) practitioner and trainer keen to develop and enhance RJ practice nationally. You will need experience of successfully handling a range of cases/conflicts, including complex and sensitive ones, and restorative circles. You will be experienced in and sensitive to the challenges of delivering […]
Black History Month: Neutrality vs equity
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. October is Black History Month, a time to acknowledge the impact of centuries of oppression and celebrate the often unacknowledged achievements of Black people across the UK. Whilst racism and inequality is something that should be discussed and tackled throughout the year, […]
Appointment of Interim Victim’s Commissioner- What does this mean for victims of crime?
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. This week, the Lord Chancellor, Alex Chalk, announced that Baroness Newlove has been appointed as the interim Victim’s Commissioner. Following Dame Vera Baird’s resignation in September 2022, the post had been left unfilled for a year. The Lord Chancellor said that the […]
What’s coming up in Restorative Justice Week?
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Restorative Justice Week, which this year falls between the 19th and the 25th of November, is fast approaching. We have an exciting line up of events and activities to share with you which will bring together the restorative community, spark challenging yet […]
We are hiring: Communication Campaigns Officer
Are you passionate about helping people affected by crime to recover? Do you have an interest in Restorative Justice and the Criminal Justice System? Are you a good communicator? We are offering an exciting new Communication Campaigns Officer role for 12 months from January 2024. This is a full-time position on a Rank Foundation Time to […]
Restorative Justice – healing harm caused by hate crime
This is a blog by Why me?’s Strategic Programmes Manager, Kate Aldous. Kate is managing Why me?’s project on the use of Restorative Justice for cases of LGBTQ+ hate crime. Hate crime is under-reported. About 53% of instances are reported to police according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales. When it is […]
How systemic inequality prevents children from accessing their rights
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Last week Why me? collaborated with expert trainers Tim Chapman and Annemieke Wolthuis to deliver a training course on ‘Restorative Justice from a Children’s Rights Perspective’. The course was an insightful process of learning and provoked many deeper conversations about systemic discrimination, […]
Out of Court Resolutions: A new framework
In this blog, we speak to our Consultant, Trevor Watson, about the new Out of Court Resolution framework. There are only 22 days left to respond to the Ministry of Justice consultation document, ‘Diversionary and Community Cautions: Draft Code of Practice‘, drafted to implement the new two tier cautionary framework as laid out in […]
Economic Evaluation: A global audience at the European Criminology Conference 2023
This is a blog by our Director Lucy Jaffé. We were delighted that Why me?’s Economic Evaluation paper, which shows that for every £1 invested in Restorative Justice, £14 of benefits accrue, was accepted for presentation at this important conference. There were 2500 global criminologists and experts at the European Society of Criminology conference […]
Restorative Justice: A Victim-Centred Approach to Harm
This blog is written by Harry Grindle as part of the Daniel Merriman – Ted Bensinger III Fellowship, where Harry is assessing the feasibility and efficacy of restorative justice as an alternative judicial route. Harry is a Yale Psychology BS graduate and an incoming Criminology & Criminal Justice MSc student at the University of Oxford. […]
“How Restorative Justice gave me a new sense of direction”
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Volunteer, Bryony Hutt. I have recently joined Why me? as a volunteer and am very excited at the opportunity to learn more about Restorative Justice. After over a decade working in humanitarian aid, two ground-shaking events led me to take a pause and redirect my […]
We are hiring a Restorative Justice Development Coordinator!
This is an exciting opportunity for a Restorative Justice (RJ) practitioner with experience in different settings, and a passion to develop RJ practice and policy. They will be keen to work at national level to implement and influence policy and practice change. They will be excited about applying their knowledge and skill to our current […]
Meet the experts
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Young people and children have particular needs which are sometimes overlooked when they are in contact with the Criminal Justice System. When working with children and young people, it is crucial to ensure that their rights are being protected and their needs […]
The role of Restorative Justice in marginalised communities
In this blog, Nishma, our Restorative Justice Development Officer, shares more about her work on Project Articulate and the value of Restorative Justice for marginalised communities. I started my role as Restorative Justice Development Officer at Why me? in June 2023. I have been leading Project Articulate which aims to widen access to Restorative […]
Missing: Have you seen the National Victims’ Commissioner?
This is a blog by our Director Lucy Jaffé. It has now been 11 months since Dame Vera Baird KC resigned from her role as National Victims’ Commissioner. But the role has remained vacant for almost a year. At a time when a landmark piece of legislation, the Victims and Prisoners Bill, is passing […]
The right to a referral or the right to Restorative Justice?
In this blog, our Communications and Events Coordinator Keeva Baxter explores the difference between the right to be referred to a Restorative Justice service and the right to Restorative Justice. This is based on the conversations we have been having around the inclusion of Restorative Justice in the Victims and Prisoners Bill. One challenge […]
Getting your PCC on board: Restorative Justice budgeting for 2024-25
This is a blog by our Director Lucy Jaffé. What is the cost benefit of Restorative Justice? What tools can you use to understand the return on investment? Is your Police and Crime Commissioner on board with Restorative Justice? We want to support Restorative Justice services to show their Police and Crime Commissioners […]
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 […]
Best practice when working with young people
This blog is written by our Youth Justice Lead, Leah Robinson and has been inspired by our Youth Justice project and Good Practice Guide for Youth Justice Services. Here are five key things to consider when working with young people in the restorative field: Making the offer of Restorative Justice Offences without a direct […]
Making information on Restorative Justice accessible
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator, Keeva Baxter. Throughout the course of our project work, through speaking to people who have been affected by crime or those working in criminal justice settings, we have found that one key barrier to Restorative Justice is the accessibility of information. Restorative Justice can […]
Support for Restorative Justice raised in Parliament
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator Keeva Baxter. On Tuesday 27th of June, Elliot Colburn MP raised the topic of Restorative Justice in the Victims Bill Committee debate in the House of Commons. He put forward an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners’ Bill which would give victims of crime […]
Overcoming Language Barriers in the Criminal Justice System
In this blog, Diana Sutton, Director of The Bell Foundation, highlights the existing language barriers that can prevent people who speak English as a second or additional language (ESL) in the Criminal Justice System from accessing their rights and entitlements. Diana then explores how these barriers can be overcome, signposting some free resources that can […]
Restorative Justice Matters and Works
In this blog, our Director Lucy Jaffé reflects on the global Restorative Justice gathering in Pamplona last month. At a time when Ukraine is under attack, there is mass migration, increasing inequality and the climate is changing rapidly, it is easy to despair. But, I believe that people have the potential to live fulfilling […]
Why me?’s Radio 4 Charity Appeal
This is a blog by our Fundraising and PR Officer Lucy Harris. Why me? are excited to announce we have been selected to broadcast a BBC Radio 4 Charity Appeal. Radio 4’s Appeals are a programme highlighting the work of a charity each week and appealing for donations. It reaches a weekly audience of […]
Victims and Prisoners’ Bill Update – June 2023
This is a blog by our Director, Lucy Jaffé. As you know, Why me? have fought long and hard to have the right to Restorative Justice (RJ) enshrined in law. This briefing is to bring you up-to-date with the progress of the long-awaited Victims and Prisoner’s Bill and the implications this has for Restorative […]
Revolutionising the Criminal Justice System through Restorative Justice
In this blog, Kate Aldous, our new Strategic Programmes Manager shares what interests her about Why me? and Restorative Justice. I am excited to be starting as Strategic Programmes Manager at Why me? because I see the potential of Restorative Justice to revolutionise our Criminal Justice System. Imagine if, instead of judging, blaming and […]
PRIDE: Empowering the LGBTQ+ community through Restorative Justice
This is a blog by our Youth Justice Lead Leah Robinson and Communications and Events Coordinator Keeva Baxter. This week marks the beginning of Pride Month 2023, a month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community at a global level. While much progress has been made, there is still a long way to go towards […]
Proving the value of your restorative work
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Coordinator Keeva Baxter. Restorative Justice can transform the lives of people affected by crime. This is made clear by the testimony of the people who have been through the process themselves. Whilst practitioners see the transformative effects of Restorative Justice in our day to day […]
Overcoming language barriers in the restorative process
This is a blog by Dr Sarah Maitland, Senior Lecturer in Translation Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London. In an exciting new collaboration, Why me? and Goldsmiths, University of London are working together to explore how research in the university sector can be used to support more equitable access to Restorative Justice for speakers […]
Restorative Justice from a Children’s Rights Perspective
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Officer Keeva Baxter. Restorative Justice and trauma-informed practice are often seen as conflicting principles. However, they can be used in combination to help protect the rights of young people affected by crime. Many young people caught up in the Criminal Justice System have been the victim […]
Restorative Justice works: improving victims’ access to justice
Last week, Why me? published a briefing paper in conjunction with the Criminal Justice Alliance and the Restorative Justice Council about Restorative Justice provision within the Victims’ and Prisoners’ Bill. The briefing note can be found here. Alternatively, if you require additional accessibility support you may view the briefing note on our webpage below. Click […]
Restorative policing: rebuilding public trust
This is a blog written by our Campaigns and Communications Manager Meka Beresford. This weekend, the Metropolitan Police Force is expected to undertake one of its largest security operations yet as hundreds of thousands of people will flock to London for the coronation of King Charles. Nearly 30,000 police officers will be deployed across the […]
Restorative Justice: A Path Towards Healing From Political Bullying Rhetoric
This is a blog by Jenika Scott, a student in the Michigan School of Social Work who is researching the bullying rhetoric in politics and its impact on marginalised communities. Through her research, she is exploring how restorative practices can be used to repair some of the harm caused by this bullying rhetoric.
Restorative Justice – A powerful lens to address harm caused by slavery
This is a blog by our Director Lucy Jaffé. British institutions are increasingly recognising that the origins of the wealth they enjoy today comes from historical endeavours based on slavery.
Repairing the harm caused by retail crime
This is a blog by our Communications and Events Officer Keeva Baxter. Why me? have recently reached the end of phase one of our project Putting Victims of Retail Crime First through Restorative Justice. Over the course of the last six months we have been working in Torquay to increase awareness of Restorative Justice […]
Restorative Justice can be used to address anti-social behaviour, but it must be used right
Communities need urgent support to address anti-social behaviour in their area. But what kind of support do they want, how is that decided and what is going to make a lasting difference in complex situations? Our Director Lucy Jaffe explores.
Will the Victims and Prisoners Bill improve victims’ rights to Restorative Justice?
This is a blog written by our Campaigns and Communications Manager Meka Beresford. This week, the Victims Bill was introduced to the House of Commons as the Victims and Prisoners Bill. Why me? are pleased to see that the much-anticipated legislation has been formally introduced following over a year of extensive consultation with the public, […]
Baroness Casey Review: Healing decades of harm
This is a blog written by our Campaigns and Communications Manager Meka Beresford. This week Baroness Casey found the Metropolitan Police Service to be institutionally racist, homophobic, and misogynist in an independent review of the behaviour and internal culture of the service. The Casey review identified institutional and systemic failings that have allowed discrimination to […]
Understanding barriers to Restorative Justice for young people, young adults and victims of crime
This week, Why me? has published our report ‘Understanding barriers to Restorative Justice for young people, young adults and victims of crime‘. Drawing together findings of Why me?’s three-year youth justice project, through which we conducted a total of seven partnerships, 32 service user interviews, 39 staff members interviews, five focus groups and four restorative […]