The passing of the assisted dying bill is not a good moment for Westminster. Too many MPs not interested, too many not attending, too many not interested in pre vote amendments and the consequences. Sincerely hoping for better scrutiny and more rigorous endeavour at the House of

QCAP was delighted to showcase its work during a panel session at @QUBSSESW Research Conference on Friday 23rd May. Thanks also to Fionntán @MDABelfast and Billy @Alternatives_RJ for their invaluable contributions!

Thanks to @petermartindup for visiting the DARE Programme tonight. Great discussion around education, community safety, and life in Kilcooley.

We are the butterfly bush. Sometimes we are thorny but if you stick with us, we are supporting communities to flourish into butterflies.

Richard Irwin from TEO closing remarks acknowledging the quality of the work we do in transforming communities and promoting non-violence. Providing a new way of working.

Gary highlighting Strive a developmental and intense programme working with young people on personal development, citizenship, good relationships and employability. Encouraged by the stories of young people’s resilience on the programme

Daryl highlighting the importance of restorative justice in sport -discussing his pilot programme in Portadown working with young people in collaboration with local football teams.

Faith highlighting her programme NotJustUs and how she was supported through Alternatives to develop this. Delivering her restorative justice programme in communities helping those understand the legal system.

Stacey discussing the Importance to focus on investing in young people, nurturing them to become the new leaders in our society.

Jonny recognising how powerful experiences encourage us to give back and teach others restorative justice.

Gary discusses his experiences of hating school and issues with authority and how alternatives supported him to find himself and focus on his interests. He now works on the strive programme supporting and guiding other young people.

Daryl discusses his experiences as a student on placement in alternatives how the youth workers supported and inspired him in restorative justice. He now works with young people in our ABC area.

Faith discussing growing up in a restorative justice household and how being a victim of a crime she accessed counselling and now works as an administrator & on the MIND Programme supporting others to access counselling services.

Stacey discussing her first interaction with Alternatives was due to being caught up in riots and poor relationships with the police - recognising the hurt and harm she was causing her community but through alternatives has developed and now works on community safety and policing

Youth staff panel celebrating the service users who have now become staff 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Gavin Robinson notes theres a power to restorative justice because it deals with brokenness and creates healing. There’s nothing easy about confronting the hurt and harm done to others - Restorative Justice is Brave!!

Lindsay reading her powerful poem The Circle on restorative justice and her experiences on the course. Reinforcing that repairing the harm is the reward.

Raymond discusses the course changing his mindset and that there are alternative ways to deal with conflict within communities. Acknowledging the personal challenges the course provided and how he would never have had the opportunity to attend university.

Julie a participant on the course highlights leaving school with no qualifications and how the restorative justice teaching has helped her to learn and grow as a wife and parent, but also help the women she works with in her community be the best version of themselves.

The University course is opening doors for people who want to make a difference in their communities and believe conflict is an area to learn, heal and grow instead of being swept under the rug.