A week in the life of Marcus Czarnecki – Restorative Practice Champion

Celebrating Restorative Justice Week

Each Year The RJC – Restorative Justice Council nationally and internationally observes Restorative Justice week  – a week that aims to highlight the benefits of Restorative Justice and to keep the paradigm and the flame of dialogue about RJ alive and fresh.

The big ideas are crucial – we have those – From 2011 We (Community Safety Partnership and Voluntary Action North East Lincolnshire) have championed the idea of a Restorative Borough – using the benefits of restorative justice and restorative practice throughout North East Lincolnshire. Step by step we are doing that – making advances, suffering setbacks – but also inspiring new ideas and having great impact. Agreeing to the big idea is the easy part. It’s the tiny steps along the way that really matter. As with all culture change it takes time. These changes can be inspired by visionaries, given substance through training courses,  encouraged as practice by good leaders, given a rationale and context by policies and procedures – but it is in the realm of the heart – person to person example and encouragement that genuine understanding and the transformative ‘Eureeka!’ Or ‘Aaah – Now I understand!’ moments occur which then cause the greatest impact.

So, rather put on an event just to celebrate RJ Week - here are a few of the all-important tiny steps taken during Restorative Justice Week in North East Lincolnshire that are contributing to the creation of a whole new way – realities that are evolving,...