Peacemakers' Spring Newsletter

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We plant the seeds and who knows how deep and far the fruits go

A retired Peacemakers trainer was out walking and someone approached him and said, “I remember you, you’re Adam aren’t you?” A bit surprised, Adam nodded.
“Twenty-five years ago you and your wife came out to my school in Telford when I was the headteacher, to train some children in mediation. It was absolutely life changing. I can’t thank you enough.”
We plant the seeds and who knows how deep and far the fruits go!

Click here to access the Peacemakers website

How will you invest in our planet?

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

Our Climate Justice Junior Peacemakers workshops could be held at your primary school to get young people to think about making a difference in the world. The days are linked to the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Award and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

If you’re interested in booking a workshop for your school, please contact Libbs@peacemakers.org.uk.

Click here to find out more

People who are making a difference: an activity for 9-11 year olds

This is an activity for year groups 5 & 6 - People who are making a difference from the our Climate Justice peace, sustainability & rights workshop

This activity works best with a giant floor map, for example in a hall, where children can move around freely to experience the map. We got our giant vinyl world floor map from here.

If this isn’t possible, then A3 sized world maps in pairs can work, with the teacher plotting each profile on a map at the front of the classroom as they are shared.

Giant map: Sit around the map in a circle. Orientate the children with the map. Ask them what they think the colours mean, any geographical features, the equator, how the weather is in different parts of the world, etc. Invite the children to go and stand on any countries that they may know and tell you about them. Ask the children how they think climate change affects different parts of the world differently e.g. more rain, lower land, more intense heat, longer winters, extreme weather.

Give a profile to each pair - link provided below. Ask them to make notes about their person:

Who are they?
Where are they in the world?
What do they do?
How do you think they do it?
Who does it help and how?

Once they have made notes, they need to try and find in the world where they think their profile is based and place the card there (or mark with a sticker if A3 maps).

Then each pair in turn shares what they have found out about their profile and what difference they think that person or people make to their community and the wider world in the face of climate change. If working from A3 maps, the teacher plots them on a graph at the front one by one.

Ask the children now to consider if they think they could do any of these things or something similar, now or in the future, to make a difference. After they’ve had discussion and planning time, share any ideas.

Link to profiles

Junior Peacemakers Workshop Guide including climate justice and many more

This resource draws on Peacemakers' experience of bringing together global issues, with social and emotional learning.

Inside you will find the tools to be able to create and facilitate a Junior Peacemakers workshop, designed to support the development of children's skills, attitudes and motivation to build Peace Within [Inner Peace], Peace Between [Peaceful Relationships] and Peace Throughout [Peaceful Communities]. It engages young people to think about the issues of justice that surround climate change, for themselves and for people around the world.

Download for free here

Could you save the planet?

Fantastically great women who saved the planet is an inspiring book of child friendly biographies of great women with stirring stories. It encourages children to save the planet in their own way. I had read the first book in the series –fantastically great women who changed the world – and when I saw this edition I was eager to read it.

I particularly enjoyed finding out about Daphne Sheldrick and her wildlife trust. She grew up in Kenya and spent 60 years helping orphaned elephants. Kate Pankhurst also did amazing illustrations; I particularly liked the chimpanzees on the page about Jane Goodall.

This book is ideal for children (aged 6-10) as it has a glossary at the back to explain the complicated words. Younger children may also enjoy having it read to them. I would recommend the whole series, especially to fans of Rebel Girls.

I would give this book 5 stars!

Bethan Eccles Aged 11

RESTORATIVE APPROACHES OPPORTUNITIES

Why do restorative approaches work?

Interest in Restorative Approaches (RA) to behaviour and conflict in schools continues to grow across the UK. But why? What are people finding after introducing a restorative ethos to schools? RA provide a structured and consistent response to the inevitable incidents of conflict that arise in the life of a school. The benefits of improved conflict resolution in schools lead to reduced disruption of teaching and learning, improved relationships and a calmer school environment.

Click here for more

Cake for mediation!

Some of the Peer Mediators at Holy Family school in Coventry made quite an impact. A Year 1 boy was so thankful for the support they gave him that he made some cupcakes for them! Spreading kindness!

Peer Mediation Plus - how is it going?

Peer Mediation Plus evolved in response to requests for further support for the scheme. It includes a preparatory workshop for children, training for classroom staff and lunchtime supervisors, the full 3 days of mediation training and follow up visits from Peacemakers.

We have successfully trained 15 schools in Peer Mediation Plus since Summer 2022. They are plotted on the map on the right.

Our follow up visits help us learn what is going well and what some of the challenges may be. We check the skills of the mediators and what they remember about the training, to feedback to the Mediation Lead anything that needs to be revisited.

Mediators have said:

“It doesn’t just help at school, but helps at home and will help in the future, for example at High School.”
“I like helping little children, so they’re not upset and sad.”
“I love everything about Peacemakers, but the one thing I like most is you can get to know about is people.”
“It has helped by giving me confidence.”
“Mediation has helped me by getting along with others.”
“Mediation has helped me to cope with my siblings even though they annoy me.”

Staff have said:

“They have really taken ownership of the role and their confidence has grown.”
“You can hear how lovely it is the way that they solve problems. The impact is that other children know where to go if they need and are now sorting out their own problems as well.”
“Younger children have really found it helpful.”
“It is a great student leadership opportunity and the younger years are asking to do it next year.”

Meeting with the lunch time supervisors has meant we have received some very complimentary and enthusiastic responses about the roles that the mediators play in school and the help that they give to the staff and students.

78% of children who used Peer Mediation felt it helped or partly helped their problem and 90% said they would return if they had a problem again. 84% of children felt that having Peer Mediators made their school a better place. One said “it helps you feel safe”.

If you’re interested in Peer Mediation Plus for your school, please contact Libbs@peacemakers.org.uk

Address and Contacts

Our mailing address is: Peacemakers, 41 Bull Street, Birmingham, West Midlands B4 6AF United Kingdom

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