Project Articulate: Restorative Justice for people with English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Aims
This project aims to widen access to Restorative Justice for people with English as an Additional Language (EAL).
During this project (initially for one year, with a possibility of extension to three years), Why me? are working with the Institute for Crime and Justice Policy Research and Victim Support, as well as regional Restorative Justice services and equality and community organisations.
What are we doing?
- Building the capacity of up to six services already working with people with EAL, and convincing them of the power and potential of restorative practice.
- Building the capacity of three regional RJ services to be accessible to these groups.
- Developing a national delivery model, best practice guidance and checklist.
- Recruiting victim ambassadors to talk about their experience of using Restorative Justice.
- Influencing policy-makers and inspiring them to commission restorative and victims’ services effectively, to better serve the needs of people with EAL.
Why are we doing this?
- Why me?’s work on Restorative Justice for hate crime has revealed that dissatisfaction is particularly prevalent among victims with protected characteristics, including people with EAL.
- Victims of crime with EAL often face cultural barriers to accessing the Criminal Justice System, as well as language barriers, both of which need to be addressed.
- Restorative Justice has the potential to break down barriers between victims of crime with EAL and their offenders, and could have a significant benefit to both parties.
Good practice when working with English as an Additional Language speakers
To summarise the research and collaborative community work we have done over the course of this project, we have created a Good Practice Guide to support Restorative Justice practitioners to work effectively with people who speak English as an Additional Language.
Read our blogs on the topic
The role of Restorative Justice in marginalised communities – 25th August 2023
Overcoming Language Barriers in the Criminal Justice System – 5th July 2023
Overcoming language barriers in the restorative process – 24th May 2023
How can we widen access to Restorative Justice within migrant communities? – 8th September 2022
Power, Privilege, and Collaboration: Reflections from the EFRJ Conference – 15th July 2022
Insights from the Project Articulate Roundtable 2022 – 22nd April 2022
Project Articulate: Restorative Justice and Cultural Translation – 10th March 2022
This project will really showcase the potential of Restorative Justice in transforming lives. We are delighted to receive this support from the Bell Foundation, in order to open up access to RJ for people with EAL needs.
Lucy Jaffé, Director of Why me?
Too often, a lack of awareness or understanding about language barriers means that Restorative Justice services do not reach victims of crime who have English as an Additional Language. Restorative Justice is a valuable and meaningful way of helping someone impacted by crime, and we are excited to work with Why Me? on increasing the access to this service.
Diana Sutton, Director of The Bell Foundation
Project Articulate Insights
Project Articulate Video Testimonials
Restorative Justice and Cultural Translation
Do you work with victims of crime with English as an Additional Language? Would you like to know more about how best to meet their needs, work effectively with interpreters, widen access to Restorative Justice for this group and fulfil any requirements under the Public Sector Equality Duty?
If you are interested in finding out more about Project Articulate, please contact us via info@why-me.org.
This work is funded by the Bell Foundation. Twitter: @BellFoundation
