We work with young people across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Here is what some young people say about their experiences with us:

"I now understand how to deal with conflict and injustice so much more"

"I like being able to discuss difficult issues and how we can support others"

"I feel more accepted at college and have a better understanding of people's emotions"

Our work is delivered by a small but responsive team whose members are skilled and experienced.​

Josh Rogers

Josh Rogers joined our team after training with us in July 2019; he is skilled in building community and communicating about climate change. He is a welcome collaborator for delivery of our Ripple Effect Programme in secondary schools. We are planning that in 2020 Josh will be developing further work to empower young people in their school communities to address climate change.

 

Yasmine Fosu

Yasmine is an advocate for Restorative Practice at Penryn Campus where she is studying Politics and co-ordinating a project which creatively records students’ experiences of racism.   Initially recruited by RJ Working as an Intern through the University of Exeter, Yasmine undertook our 3-day certificated training in October 2019.  She has since become a sessional team member supporting RJ Working’s commitment to championing equalities with Cornwall’s young people through various contributions: collaborating on anti-racism project development, speaking at school assemblies and our Young People Connect for Justice Conferences.

Louise Everett-Lindsay

Louise is our Schools Programme Lead, thanks to funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. With a background in teaching and middle leadership in secondary schools, Louise builds relationships across  Cornwall to develop our work. She is also responsible for continuous and co-produced evaluation.

 

 

 

Deborah Mitchell


Deborah Mitchell

Our CEO Deborah Mitchell is an active Quaker. She supervises our team developments and represents our team at Conferences nationally and internationally.
An independent Social Worker, Deborah is the RJ Working Restorative Practice lead and provider of professional supervision.

 

 

 


Hannah Stephens

Hannah is a lead facilitator of our Ripple Effect training in Secondary Schools, which is informed by her creative uses of drama. Her creative practice in theatre is also evident in our training materials and her collaborations with Jon Welch.


Amy Harrison

Amy led our Right On Redruth Community Development project supported by the People’s Health Trust.

She is a lead facilitator on our Ripple Effect Programme in secondary schools. Amy is also a Family Group Conference Co-ordinator.

Gail Waite

Gail Waite is an Independent Restorative Practice trainer and lecturer based in the South West. She lectures in Restorative Practice at Brunel University. Gail brings her passion for young people and broad experience of training across sectors to join the team delivering our Ripple Effect training in secondary schools as well as our training for Senior Leadership staff.

Amanda Luxmoore

 

Amanda has a background in teaching and environmental education through leading groups outdoors to raise awareness of environmental and sustainable lifestyles. Amanda is passionate about education for sustainability and improving the wellbeing of young people. She is an experienced coach and has developed learning resources and activity workshops specific to Key Stage 2.

We also collaborate regularly with others:

Annemarie Bala

Annemarie is a Photography graduate who studied at Falmouth University and speaks several languages.
Anne is currently developing creative practice for community development. She is skilled at promoting independent learning, integrating her skills and knowledge of Restorative Practice.

Ellie Stacey

Ellie is a former Primary Headteacher and chair of the Cornwall Refugee Resettlement Network.
She is using her expertise to supervise the development of our work in Primary Schools.
Ellie brings valuable leadership through her experience of Community Development and sponsorship of refugee families.

Bernadette Chelvanayagam

Bernadette has varied expertise from training and coaching Social Workers to community development in Plymouth and Cornwall. Having contributed eight years to the Zebra Collective she is currently practicing in Criminal Negligence Law. She is a valued consultant and collaborator for RJ Working.

Paddy Dowling

We have the support of international photojournalist Paddy Dowling who covers major humanitarian crises for NGOs around the world. He is passionate about social justice and increasingly his work involves portraiture of children coping with adverse circumstances. He works with Educate a Child a project of Education Above All.

Our Board of Directors steer the organisation, bringing valuable expertise and a wealth of experience:

Abi Cowls

Abi Cowls is passionate about championing young people and is a Mental Health Advisor at Penwith College. She has a Forensic Psychology background and first became interested in RJ when on a placement year in the prison service. Abi completed her Restorative Leadership training with RJ Working in 2018 and since then has been a valued youngest member of our board. Abi’s experience of growing up in Cornwall and direct work with young people bring the needs of our target audience to every board meeting.

Lesley Chandler

Lesley is the Chair of our Board of Directors and an active Quaker. Formerly a Secondary School teacher, Lesley volunteers as a workshop facilitator for a charity which builds relationships and reduces violence in the community and in prisons (Alternatives to Violence Programme). She is an active member of the Camborne/Pool/Redruth communities and is the Quaker Representative for Cornwall Churches Together. A founder member of RJ Working, she feels that schools are the natural place to foster Restorative Practice.

David Blake

David’s main focus is ensuring that the company operates on a sound commercial basis in keeping with our Business Plan. His career was mainly senior management at Royal Mail and Guernsey Post where he was a Director and Board member. He is a former Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants.

Scott Bennett

Scott Bennett is a transformation leader working strategically and driving change at local and national levels. VCSE representative on Cornwall’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Scott champions Social Prescribing (social solutions to health problems) and is influential across Health, Social Care and Community sectors. A qualified Health Economist, Scott is known for rigorous data insights and managing the operational reality of urgently needed whole-system paradigm shifts.

 

Rachel Thomson

Rachel worked as a commercial banker for 15 years before changing careers and moving into the welfare to work sector. She has strong West Cornwall knowledge and business expertise, as well as a desire to see people succeed.

Derek Hayes

Derek supported RJ Working in 2015 as a Fellow of the RSA engaging Falmouth University animation students to communicate Restorative Practice principles in short films. This gained support from voices including Jenny Agutter and Dawn French, and was shortlisted for the ‘Cutting Edge’ category of the national Restorative Practice Awards 2016. In 2017 Derek joined the Board of Directors, bringing his commitment to creative Community Development and to filmmaking.

Stephen Spooner

An experienced and expert practitioner in Family Group Conferencing, Stephen completed his Restorative Practice training with RJ Working in 2016 and led aspects of our Restorative Service Quality Mark process. Stephen is now supervising our Family Group Conference Service.

Our Patron: Mark Walters

We are delighted to have the support of Dr Mark Walters renowned international academic based at the University of Sussex. Mark is author of Hate Crime and Restorative Justice: Exploring Causes, Repairing Harms.


Prior to his tragic death in 2016, our first patron was Lionel Morrison. Lionel was recognised for his contribution to ending apartheid in South Africa. He was also the first black president of the NUK and the Chair of Notting Hill Housing Association. Lionel is central to our short film Making A Start which you can view here.

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