Black Restorative Network Ltd
Join us in our mission to create a more just and equitable society through restorative practices.
SERVICES
Growing Connections for Success
Network meetings
We organise quarterly meetings to facilitate improved connections, provide support and foster collaborations for members' professional growth.
Workshops and training
Our workshops offer valuable insights, strategies, and tools to enhance members' skills and knowledge.
We deliver training to organisations on a wide range of topics.
Collaborative working
We are keen to explore opportunities for joint projects and funding.
OUR STORY
Our journey began with a shared vision between our Co-Founders at a Restorative Justice Council event in 2022. Our idea was to:
- Create a supportive community for Black restorative practitioners and Black-led organisations across the UK.
- Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth within a supportive network.
The Black Restorative Network is now a national membership organisation offering a safe space for sharing experiences, networking, promoting well-being, supporting, and collaborating.
We are growing a thriving hub where like-minded individuals can come together to uplift each other and foster meaningful connections to make a difference for the better in our communities. We have also attracted interest from restorative colleagues in the United States and Europe.
Images by www.freepik.com
Empowering Black Restorative Professionals
OUR VISION
We dream big.
To use Restorative Approaches in the everyday lives of our communities to reduce conflict,
promote healthy relationships
and provide opportunities for practitioners and our communities to thrive.
OUR MISSION
Together we can...
Increase the awareness and use of restorative approaches in the community.
To reduce conflict, promote healthy relationships and provide opportunities for practitioners and our communities to thrive.
Deliver high quality and inclusive restorative practice.
Support and uplift other practioners and organisations.
Expand the reach of restorative knowledge and practice to a wider range of the community.
Broaden and improve routes into restorative practice for people from Black and Black mixed communities
Drive systemic change
To address discrimination, racism and bias in a restorative way in the criminal justice system, educational settings, employment, health service and our daily lives.
WHO WE ARE
Meet Our Network Founders
Linda Reid
Co Founder
Linda is a self-motivated, hardworking and determined professional with over twenty years' experience of working restoratively in the youth justice field.
Linda strives to achieve the very best possible outcomes for children, their families and communities.
Linda has a proven track record of engagement and collaborative partnership work with local communities and stakeholders. A creative, qualified facilitator in both one to one and group work settings. Linda has also designed online and face to face training programmes for organisations.
Linda has a transparent, resilient and motivational style of leadership with management experience of multi-disciplinary teams gained in the charitable and public sectors. Always focussed on promoting safeguarding, wellbeing and equity for all. Linda is also a Director of Shine Unity, a restorative organisation working with children and young people from Black communities and marginalised groups.
Gifford Sutherland
Co Founder
Gifford has over 15 years’ experience in the restorative field. He is also the founder and Chief Executive of UpskillU, a national CPD Training Consultancy and Grassroots Restorative Organisation and has run or led a number of successful charities and community organisations specialising in working with young people affected by Youth Violence and Child Criminal Exploitation.
Gifford is currently a trustee for Race on the Agenda (ROTA), one of Britain’s leading anti-racist change drivers and has frequently consulted on government advisory bodies and initiatives addressing Knife Crime, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and tackling Race Equity and Diversity. Gifford is also a practising Trauma Therapist trained through the Tavistock NHS Trust, a qualified counsellor, executive coach and a Master NLP Practitioner.
Gifford is an innovative and dynamic social entrepreneur, trainer, and motivational keynote speaker with an established reputation for his work within a wide variety of settings, including Social Housing, Criminal Justice and Youth Sectors. As a Restorative champion Gifford’s ambition is to increase the number of Black restorative practitioners within the UK by removing the cultural barriers which prevent black practitioners and black led organisations to flourish within the restorative field.
CONTACT
Connect with us
LINDA REID
Linda@blackrestorativenetwork.co.uk
GIFFORD SUTHERLAND
Gifford@blackrestorativenetwork.co.uk
