FAQs
- What is Conflict Resolution Education?
- Is the training you offer free?
- What are conflict resolution skills?
- What is Peer Mediation?
- What is/Why a Whole School Approach?
- We work with Children and Young People but are not a school – can you help us?
- Why work in schools?
What is Conflict Resolution Education?
It involves teaching people to manage conflict without violence. It develops an understanding of:
- the nature of conflict
- our own values and beliefs and how these might be different to those of others
- emotions and our responsibility for thoughts and actions
Is the training you offer free?
No unfortunately it’s not free, however we are a UK registered charity and therefore a not for profit organisation, any charges made are to support the work of CRESST furthering the education of children and young people in this vital life skill.
We occasionally fundraise to work with specific groups and areas. Do call us to discuss how you would like to work with us.
What are conflict resolution skills?
The ability to;
- express feelings, needs and interests clearly and in a non-threatening way
- control powerful feelings
- listen carefully to someone else and empathise
- affirm ourselves and others
- co-operate
- problem solve
What is Peer Mediation?
Mediation is a process in which people in conflict are supported by a neutral third party to hear each other’s stories and find a mutually acceptable way forward.
Peer mediation is the term given to this process when the mediators are young people mediating their peers.
A peer mediation service is a facility run by students, for students. In peer mediation disputants can be guided through a process of resolution by trained volunteers before the conflict escalates and the consequences become serious and adults have to be involved.
Benefits
- Allows students to own resolutions rather than have acceptance forced upon them
- Gives responsibility to students for the management of their own personal conflicts
- Gives the students the chance to practise important life skills that will offer them a positive alternative to conflict resolution through force or aggression
- Provides opportunities for students to express their wishes and needs in a non threatening environment
- Provides accessibility to trained peer support
- Provides trained mediators for the local community
- Reduces adult time spent in refereeing arguments between students which encroaches on teaching and learning sessions.
What is/Why a Whole School Approach?
This entails making sure that the whole school community (children, teachers, support staff, governors and parents) knows that CRE is taking place in the school. Training is provided for teachers and support staff as well as for children. Selected years have a programme of conflict resolution education (CRE) and children from those years are then chosen to have further training in peer mediation. With the support of teachers those children go on to provide a peer mediation scheme within the school. The aim is that once the initial training has been given the school will be able to provide an ongoing programme of CRE and sustain the peer mediation scheme on its own but with some support from the project.
We believe that a Whole School Approach is being pursued when there is:
- High level of commitment from Head and the School Management Team
- Awareness of (CRE) and support from teaching staff, support staff, lunchtime staff, governors and parents
- Peer Mediators are trained and a scheme operates within the school
- Peer Mediators are supported by an adult/s and have regular meetings to bond as a group and continue their training
- There is a dedicated notice board for Peer Mediation
- Peer Mediators do a whole school assembly attended by staff and parents
- Adults within the school model behaviour consistent with Conflict Resolution
- Children seen to be using Conflict Resolution skills and related vocabulary
- Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation feature in policies (behaviour and discipline, bullying, PSHE and Citizenship)
- Conflict Resolution is part of the school culture
- Parent/Governor workshops take place
We work with Children and Young People but are not a school – can you help us?
Yes we can, we believe that conflict resolution education and peer mediation can bring many benefits to all child and youth centred organisations. We have previously worked with children’s homes, youth forums, youth groups and inclusion units. Call us to discuss your needs.
Why work in schools?
Schools are a natural starting point for working with children and young people in this subject area. School is where most children and young people spend the majority of their day. Conflict Resolution Education and Peer Mediation can help a school in many ways, reducing bullying behaviour, providing students with ways to tackle conflict before it escalates and developing the emotional development of the students, helping to create calmer classrooms and aid improved attainment.
We need your help
- Volunteers
Take a look at the about us page to find out how you can help. - Donations
We need your support to continue our work. Find out how we make even small donations go a long way.