Sunderland Restorative Justice Programme

[Sunderland] 2009 onwards

Working with Sunderland Youth Offending Service to deliver a participatory arts programme to enable young people to undertake creative activity which benefits the local community.

The core aims are to:

• provide the opportunity for young people on the restorative justice programme to take part in high quality arts activity;
• provide tangible products for the use/benefit of people in the local community;
• develop participants' confidence & self esteem and the opportunity to develop new skills & interests;
• broaden participants' horizons.

The project will achieve these aims by:

• providing a motivating programme of high quality arts workshops;
• providing participants with the experience of working alongside professional creative practitioners;
• identifying and exploring employment/training/educational possibilities for/with participants;
• providing the opportunity for participants to consult with the local community on their requirements from the programme.

The group have worked with NewLine Graffiti to create artworks on the theme of anti-bullying. The group used these images to create badges and keyrings to be used by Sunderland Youth Offending Service.

Sunderland and North Durham Royal Society for the Blind commissioned 3D artist Fiona Gray and the young people to develop artworks for their sensory garden in Barley Mow Park, Sunderland. The group was involved in every stage of the project from detailed design, fabrication, installation and promotion of the works produced. The pieces are now installed in the garden and include bird boxes, metal signage, ceramic tiles and a seat. The garden was opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sunderland and Dr David Bellamy on 27 August 2010.

Participants have also been working with animator and graphic designer Adam Clarke to create a short film and information pack around young victims of crime.