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Learning to look back: A personal thank you
Dec 16, 2020
By Dr. Theo Gavrielides RJ4All Founder & Director
15 Dec. 20
A recent study compared how much people working in the private, public and charitable sectors boast about their achievements. Obviously, those working in the voluntary sector came last. This is not surprising. We do what we do as part of our civic duty as most of us make our work … our life. We don’t distinguish the time that we put for ourselves and families from the time we put for others. They are all the same! Although the results of this survey were not surprising, they were helpful as they forced me to look back at what we have collectively achieved this year, and pause for a minute. That minute left me full of gratitude and humility.
2020 has been a special year in so many ways. COVID19’s unprecedented health and socio-economic impacts can only be compared to what followed World War II. As we watched the death toll rise day by day, those of us working in the charitable sector felt double frustrated and lost. The government’s social distancing measures meant that we either had to find new ways of responding to our communities’ needs or accept defeat and either shut down temporarily or indeed close.
At RJ4All, we felt that we had to raise to the challenge. We closed our office and quickly set up a voluntary, home-based infrastructure that simply allowed our staff and volunteers to continue our charitable services. We simply could not watch the spiralling effect of COVID19’s consequences whether these related to health or other socio-economic and educational challenges. We also knew that if we don’t raise to the challenge now, our founding restorative justice values of equality, power sharing, respect and dignity would be betrayed.
But with suffering, inequalities and death, I have also seen our communities coming together like never before. Funders collaborated to coordinate a response to the crisis, while we saw our volunteers increasing by 120% just in 6 months. I could not be more proud of my team. Despite the many challenges, it is without doubt that 2020 has been the strongest year so far for our charitable institute.
We were honoured to have received the Highly Commended Award for the Best Charity in the 2020 Southwark Business Excellence Awards. RJ4All also received the ESC Quality Mark, signifying that all our policies are compliant with European standards for safeguarding, volunteering and work placements. Moreover, we were one of the 2020 Top 100 social enterprises in the UK (NATWEST SE100), while the Cabinet Office asked us to apply for the Queen's Awards for Enterprise.
A huge thank you to the team, the Board, the Patrons, our funders and supporters. A personal thank you to you who is reading this blog. As you read our 2020 Impact Report, please consider joining us as a member, volunteer or just supporter. We need more people like you in these times of solidarity and change. Happy new year from the RJ4All family.
2020 has been a special year in so many ways. COVID19’s unprecedented health and socio-economic impacts can only be compared to what followed World War II. As we watched the death toll rise day by day, those of us working in the charitable sector felt double frustrated and lost. The government’s social distancing measures meant that we either had to find new ways of responding to our communities’ needs or accept defeat and either shut down temporarily or indeed close.
At RJ4All, we felt that we had to raise to the challenge. We closed our office and quickly set up a voluntary, home-based infrastructure that simply allowed our staff and volunteers to continue our charitable services. We simply could not watch the spiralling effect of COVID19’s consequences whether these related to health or other socio-economic and educational challenges. We also knew that if we don’t raise to the challenge now, our founding restorative justice values of equality, power sharing, respect and dignity would be betrayed.
But with suffering, inequalities and death, I have also seen our communities coming together like never before. Funders collaborated to coordinate a response to the crisis, while we saw our volunteers increasing by 120% just in 6 months. I could not be more proud of my team. Despite the many challenges, it is without doubt that 2020 has been the strongest year so far for our charitable institute.
We were honoured to have received the Highly Commended Award for the Best Charity in the 2020 Southwark Business Excellence Awards. RJ4All also received the ESC Quality Mark, signifying that all our policies are compliant with European standards for safeguarding, volunteering and work placements. Moreover, we were one of the 2020 Top 100 social enterprises in the UK (NATWEST SE100), while the Cabinet Office asked us to apply for the Queen's Awards for Enterprise.
A huge thank you to the team, the Board, the Patrons, our funders and supporters. A personal thank you to you who is reading this blog. As you read our 2020 Impact Report, please consider joining us as a member, volunteer or just supporter. We need more people like you in these times of solidarity and change. Happy new year from the RJ4All family.
Watch this video that summarises our current priorities as an organisation!
Joint Advocacy Letter: Inclusion of Restorative Justice in the Victims & Prisoners Bill
Cllr Natasha Ennin, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, LBS Cc Althea Loderick, CEO of Southwark Council Neil Coyle, MP Caroline Thwaites, Assistant Director for Community Safety & Partnerships, LBS Cllr, Nick Johnson, Surrey Docs Ward Cllr Cryan Stephanie, Rotherhithe Ward Cllr Ennin: 4th Feb 2024 Open letter: Invitation to a restorative justice dialogue Thank you for meeting the RJ4All International Institute on 25th January to discuss our programme of building in Southwark the world’s first restorative justice postcode. This open letter aims to provide you with some feedback on our meeting, which I found extremely discouraging and to some extent disrespectful of the hard work that RJ4All and our local community is putting in addressing the root causes that lead to community tensions and poverty in the borough. I have learned when I see conflict to expose it and try to address it by looking at the harm caused, and not the individuals involved. Rest assured that the intention of this letter is neither accusatory nor defensive, and we have our 10-year legacy to evidence our collaborative approach and constructive relationships with local, regional and national governments. We acknowledge the LA’s hard work and investment to address persistent inequalities and make the borough a safe place for all. It is within this spirit that I write, and offer a restorative justice way forward. Read the full letter
London, Jan 20, 2024: Today, an amendment to the Victims and Prisoners Bill was tabled to introduce a “victims’ right to restorative justice". Working closely with the office of Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, RJ4All submitted evidence for legislative changes. This is the first of many others that are expected to be published on Monday.
The Victims Bill, the Rwanda Bill and the post office miscarriages of justice: What do they have in common?
The biggest gathering of advocates of restorative justice, transformative justice, and innovative legal practices is just around the corner! Practitioners, researchers, academics and a multitude of esteemed colleagues will live an unforgettable experience at the upcoming Justice Innovation Summit, set against the backdrop of the tropical paradise of Honolulu, Hawaii, from February 16 to 19, 2024. This groundbreaking event promises to be the biggest celebration of restorative justice worldwide and our Founder and Director, Dr. Theo Gavrielides could not miss such an important call! Exploring the Intersections The summit is a convergence of Restorative Justice, Transformative Justice, Therapeutic Jurisprudence, Transitional Justice, Victimology, and Indigenous Peacemaking. By delving into these diverse fields, the conference aims to answer crucial questions about how these practices intersect and contribute to improved access to justice for individuals and communities around the globe. Addressing Key Questions Interconnectedness: How do these justice approaches intersect, and how can they collectively enhance access to justice? Effective Applications: What are the most effective applications of these strategies in schools, corrections, child and family services, domestic violence, violence against women, and building peaceful communities? Collaboration: How can these justice innovations collaboratively work at both institutional and systemic levels to create lasting change? Tentative Schedule of Events Thursday, February 15th, 2024: Restorative Justice in Hawaii Legislative Briefing @ The Hawaii State Capitol (free & open to the public) Friday, February 16th, 2024, 9 am-3 pm: Pre-Conference Training Workshops (additional registration fee) Protecting the Environment with Restorative and other Justice Innovations Huikahi Reentry Planning Circles for Incarcerated People & their Loved Ones School K-12 RJ Practices and Experiences How to Build a Successful Restorative/Social Justice Organization Indigenous People’s Justice Practices Family Group Conferencing for Children and Families Restorative Justice for Addressing Domestic Violence & Violence Against Women Friday, February 16th, 2024: 4 pm: Opening Summit Ceremony , meet & greet with pupu and beverages Saturday, February 17th, 2024: 8 am: Doors Open – Registration packet pickup and continental breakfast 9 am: Welcome & Summit Orientation 10 am: Dorothy Roberts Keynote on Justice Innovations 1 pm: Innovative Impacts Shared from Sessions 3:15 pm: Roundtable Panel Discussion of Innovations 5:30-8 pm: Hawaiian Dinner (additional fee, pre-registration) Sunday, February 18th, 2024: 8 am: Doors Open – Continental Breakfast 9 am: Welcome Daily Orientation Keynote Presentation/Panel 1 pm: Innovative Impacts Shared from Sessions 3:15 pm: Roundtable Panel Discussion of Innovations 5:30-8 pm: HFRJ hosted Dinner for all Summit Participants Monday, February 19th, 2024 (President’s Day Holiday): 9 am: Doors Open – Continental Breakfast 10 am-2 pm: Hawaiian history of justice concepts and initiatives , Indigenous Panel Discussion, and creative cultural expressions. RJ4All's Involvement We are thrilled to announce that RJ4All is actively involved in organising this momentous summit, contributing to the global celebration of the transformative power of restorative justice. Stay tuned during the summit days as RJ4All will be publishing frequent updates on our progress and sharing interesting insights with our followers! Our Founder and Director, Dr. Theo Gavrielides, will be there as a keynote speaker, adding his expertise to this incredible gathering. Save the dates, mark your calendars, and get ready to be part of this historic event. For more information on the summit, visit Justice Innovations Summit . See you in Hawaii!
The RJ4All International Institute is delighted to share the news that we have been selected to receive funding from The Government’s Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund, delivered by The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK.
The ‘Community Champion Award’ was designed for the 10th anniversary of RJ4All to recognise the people who have made an outstanding contribution to our community at RJ4All. We want to celebrate the unsung heroes whose volunteering efforts have had a positive impact on their wider community.
London, December 12th – The Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All) proudly marks ten years of pioneering transformative change through the application of restorative justice principles.
Restorative Justice for All International Institute (RJ4All)
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