Cornish Collaboration Creates Restorative Communities

The RSA is committed to enabling people to take an active role in strengthening their community relationships, particularly in finding innovative ways to shift power and find more collaborative ways of delivering public services. Restorative justice and restorative practices are one such way of applying the RSA theme 'the power to create', allowing for a more constructive response to the harm caused by crime and conflict.

There is a strong evidence base, endorsed by government sponsored research, that safe, supported and voluntary communication between the parties has a very high (over 85%) victim satisfaction rate.  When conducted well, to agreed ethical standards, this work also makes a significant contribution to rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.   

However this practice represents a big cultural shift - from the division and hostility promoted by our media to the restoring of justice, through making things right.  Deborah Mitchell FRSA, one of the founders of RJ Working, a Community Interest Company based in Cornwall, has been building creative partnerships to bring these issues into public awareness in new and innovative ways, supported by a Catalyst award from the RSA. She has teamed up with Ben Symes FRSA, Artistic Director of Cube Theatre to develop audience engagement around cube theatre's touring play After the Accident. This is a powerful award winning drama about Restorative Justice which holds three very different perspectives in tension. Film clips of moments from the play have become part of RJ Working's toolkit for creating new understandings of the benefits of Restorative Justice.   

A second set of creative, collaborative relationships are now being forged between RJ Working and the Animation Course at Falmouth University led by Derek Hayes FRSA. Again, a series of short films will become part of RJ Working's toolkit for educational and networking developments. The animations are an original and innovative way of communicating some of the essential components and rewards of restorative communication, and are being generously supported by distinctive and famous voices - starting with Jenny Agutter FRSA.

As a Cornwall based social enterprise, RJ Working is eligible for business support under the Engine Room programme; this has allowed Deborah to access support around financial planning, business development and marketing via Ed Whitelaw FRSA and the Real Ideas organisation and the project has been a great example of collaborative working between John Adams Street, south west fellows and the national fellowship network