Christine Parker Receives Governors Special Recognition Award

Updated on: 10/11/2021

Since joining Highpoint Christine has introduced a suite of initiatives which has given our men diverse opportunities. It is important to add that these opportunities are not easy wins and provide our residents with real challenges which encourage them to live their lives and handle situations in new ways. Examples are Alternative to violence and Firebreak.

But today’s recognition is for her work around Restorative Practices (RP) or as we formerly called it ‘Peer Mediation’. Our residents ran a successful Peer mediation programme until eventually our pool of mediators was down to one person. They say you need two to Tango, well the same applies to Mediation. So for a period we were without the service as funding was prohibitive.

This was a disappointing loss for Highpoint as violence is a serious subject and any tool that we can deploy to prevent it is welcome and having a service for the men managed by the men served us well for three years.

That’s when Christine stepped in. Using Christine’s significant experience in the field of RP we have managed to deliver two courses and our pool of mediators now sits at above 30. Importantly, we have given 34 men the opportunity to sit with the person they are in conflict with and broker a successful resolution.

But this nomination is also about the way she goes about her business. Extremely well organised, sound strategically and deeply passionate about all disciplines within her work she is a real asset to the prison.

And do you know what; she is a really good person as well.

Source: https://unityrestorativepractices.uk/christine-parker-receives-governors-special-recognition-award/