Restorative Practices

Restorative Practices (RP) are an evidence-based set of skills that help develop and sustain strong and happy organisations and communities by actively developing good relationships, preventing the escalation of conflict and handling conflict and wrongdoing in a creative and healthy manner.

CDI has trained over 3,500 adults and 350 young people in Restorative Practices, and evaluations have consistently found that participants are readily able to use the approach; that relationships in the workplace improve; and that where conflict occurs, it is resolved more quickly when using Restorative Practices (RP).

For example, the independent evaluation of the RP Programme in Tallaght found: a reduction by 43% in work place conflicts in organisations that have adopted an RP approach; and 87% of those who had undertaken training reported being more confident in dealing with conflict.

CDI provides a range of Restorative Practices training courses and supports, details are available here.

People who have done CDI’s RP training and are using restorative practices as a way of working report that their work is easier, more enjoyable and more effective. Parents report better relationships with their children, residents report better relationships with their neighbours and young people report increased confidence and better relationships with their teachers, their families, their friends and their peers.

CDI has specific objectives regarding enhancing a sense of personal safety and belonging in the community, alongside improved inter-agency collaboration and connection between service providers and residents in Tallaght West. In 2010, we introduced our Restorative Practices Programme in order to support the progression of these objectives. With the overall aim of supporting Tallaght West to become a Restorative Community, our RP programme has involved the provision of training to the management and staff of statutory, community and voluntary organisations with responsibility for the well-being of children and also to parents, residents and young people. The RP Programme has also involved the training of RP trainers to develop capacity and the sustainability of Restorative Practices across the country, the development of support networks for sharing learning and developing joint activities to promote the use of RP, and the development of a national RP network Restorative Practices Ireland.

Evaluation Reports and Policy Brief

Restorative Practices in Tallaght

Restorative Practices in Action in Tallaght

Restorative Practices Podcast Series

Circles of Connection

Restorative Practices

CDI’s RP Programme