by Rosie Chadwick
We’ve heard much in recent days about growth, largely defined as infrastructure projects, industrial strategy, inward investment and ‘spades in the ground.’
There is, though, another side to growth about which we’ve heard much less. That’s the growth achieved by making sure that no-one’s written off and everyone is helped to achieve their full potential. Ingredients for this include:
fewer school exclusions, improved school attendance, tackling school avoidance and redesigned support for children with learning needs
helping children to thrive within their families
overcoming barriers to work
more restoration for victims and offenders
better support for carers
fewer people sleeping rough or sofa surfing
safer, better-connected communities
more genuine lesson-learning, transparency and accountability when things go wrong
Much can be achieved without extra public spending. Ultimately money will be saved. Restorative practice can contribute to most of these ambitions, helping us to understand underlying needs and agree ways forward together. Here’s hoping we hear more about this ‘people’ side of growth in the coming months, with opportunities for restorative practice to help unlock it.