RJ Week: Our Volunteers

Posted on: 13th, November 2024

This RJ Week we’re shining a light on our wonderful volunteers! Without their incredible work, we wouldn't be able to do all we do, so we'd like to take a moment to thank them and show our gratitude. Here are a selection of stories from them sharing why they joined Restorative Solutions, their day to day activities and what they enjoy most about volunteering with us. 

Chris: 

‘Being a volunteer with Restorative Justice has been very rewarding. How can it not be rewarding being able to help someone gain closure, just by facilitating? We just bring people together.’

Chris has been a volunteer for Restorative Justice for 10 years. She is mum of 5 grown up children and really enjoys the nature of the work that takes place with Restorative Justice, which is why she continues to volunteer with us after a decade. Chris finds the cases that she has been involved in very interesting as every person and case is different. 

Jan: 

‘During the last few years I have found it rewarding dealing with issues and concerns within the Community, I have learnt about people's needs and how to deal with them. This job is about listening and working with individuals who are vulnerable and need help, or just an ear to talk to, to hear their needs.’

Jan has always worked with people, from running a local radio station for over fifteen years to supporting numerous problems within the district. She is very proud to be a volunteer with the Restorative Justice Team and enjoys putting her energy and enthusiasm into any volunteering work. 

Qurra-Tul-Ain: 

‘I have learnt and seen first-hand the benefit of someone being part of a Restorative Justice  conference and I enjoy co-facilitating the awareness courses. I hope to develop further and learn more, so that I can lead on cases.’

Qurra-Tul-Ain (Ainie) has lived in the UK for over ten years and started volunteering for Restorative Justice in November 2021. She has been involved in numerous cases, such as delivering the Hate Crime and Violent Crime Awareness courses and she has also gained experience in working with Lead Practitioners on Restorative Justice cases and attending conferences. Ainie has more recently begun calling victims of crime to promote Restorative Justice, letting people know that if they have been harmed by crime, it is their right to hear about the service that we offer.

When she isn’t volunteering, Ainie spends a lot of her time with her family, taking care of her three children, going for walks and shopping. 

Clare:

‘I have been a volunteer for Restorative Solutions since September 2023. I contact victims of crime and assist with the Violent and Hate Crime Awareness courses.’

Clare started volunteering at Restorative Solutions after she retired from her full-time career within the Criminal Justice system. She now works for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice, as well as being an Exam Invigilator, and she also volunteers at her local food bank in her spare time.

David: 

‘In 2018, I commissioned the first West Yorkshire-wide Restorative Justice service. Now, I co-facilitate and lead Hate Crime and Violent Crime Awareness Courses to those who have been given conditional cautions by West Yorkshire Police, both face-to-face and using online platforms.’ 

David started volunteering with Restorative Justice in mid-2023 after retiring from the Restorative Justice Council, where he was their Policy and Communications Officer.

Prior to that, David was the Victims and Witnesses Services Adviser to the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner and then the Mayor of West Yorkshire.

David is a long-standing LGBT+ community activist and married his long-term partner in 2015.

Edward: 

‘I joined in April 2022 and have gone on to assist and lead on the delivery of numerous courses, predominantly the RJ West Yorkshire Hate Crime and Violent Crime Awareness Courses. I thoroughly enjoy my role, particularly the flexibility it offers around it fitting in with my personal life and other commitments.’ 

Edward delivers numerous courses as well as making telephone calls to victims to introduce the idea of Restorative Justice and encourage participation in the scheme. 

Edward also volunteers for other organisations, including the Witness Service at Huddersfield Magistrates Court, where he supports people attending court, often for the first time, as a witness. There are times when the witness is also the victim and Edward has found the skills used within his volunteering role (with Restorative Justice) can be transferred and used to help the witnesses/victims. There have been occasions where Edward has referred a witness (victim) to the restorative service, to try and help the person better deal with what happened to them.

Kayley: 

‘I was attracted to the post of volunteer for Restorative Justice West Yorkshire due to the success rate of the organisation. Seeing how many people the process has positively affected also influenced my decision to volunteer.’ 

Kayley joined Restorative Justice West Yorkshire in September 2024. She has recently graduated from Leeds Trinity University, studying criminology and policing.

In her spare time, Kayley enjoys physical activities, such as the gym, swimming and badminton. Alongside volunteering, she works in customer service. 

Steve: 

‘I appreciate the impact that crime can have on individuals and the wider community. By becoming a Volunteer Restorative Justice Facilitator/Practitioner, Steve is hoping to utilise his existing skill-sets and experience, while learning and developing new skills, experience and knowledge.’ 

Steve joined Restorative Solutions as a volunteer in September 2024. He has taken early retirement, having worked within the public sector, specifically homelessness. Steve hopes volunteering with Restorative Solutions will provide him new skills and experience. 

Susan: 

‘I like being part of the Restorative Justice West Yorkshire team as they are flexible and I can join in when I can. Being a volunteer for me means that I also get to feel like I’m helping people and meeting new acquaintances.’ 

Susan has worked for Bradford Council for 35 years and likes to give back and take opportunities to learn new areas where she can as “you never know where it may lead.”

She joined Restorative Justice at an early stage in its development and her first cases were neighbour disputes, which had surprising satisfactory outcomes.

Susan has learnt transferable skills which enhance her degree and feels that she’s developed as a person - the more involved she has been and the more feedback she’s taken onboard. Susan’s latest cases have led to her visiting a prison which was a first for her!

Sarah: 

‘I love the variety of the role, no two days are the same. I enjoy meeting and working with all walks of life and find the Restorative Solutions staff all supportive and knowledgeable.’ 

Sarah joined Restorative Solutions after using the service herself. She felt it empowered her and gave her a voice, enabling her to move on somewhat. She wanted to give something back so joined the team.

Steve: 

‘I read law at university and have always maintained an interest in the Criminal Justice System. Restorative Justice was very much on my radar so I got in touch with Restorative Solutions and they had me on a Practitioner course within weeks! I enjoy getting to a successful outcome and I include in that both victim and offender.’  

On retirement, Steve wanted a flexible volunteer role locally and thought Restorative Justice would be perfect as he has always been interested in the Criminal Justice System. 

It makes a huge difference to have such fantastic support. Thank you so much to all of our volunteers for their time, dedication and everything they do to help us provide a wonderful service. 

If you would like to find out more about Restorative Justice and any volunteering opportunities, head to our website.