What We Do

CRESST works directly with children, young people, and the adults in their communities across Sheffield and South Yorkshire. We run programmes of conflict resolution education (CRE) which teach people to understand conflict, how it arises and the ways it can be managed without violence.

These programmes develop 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

and facilitate the learning and practice of skills 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

These programmes are then supported by training young people to become Peer Mediators within their communities. Using mediation techniques gives children and young people a real opportunity to apply skills learned in conflict resolution education by resolving conflicts between their peers. When volunteering as mediators children and young people are involved in active citizenship, contributing to their immediate community in a valuable and practical way.