The Resolution Centre held the Graduation Ceremony for their class of 2022, to celebrate the students of their Professional Certificate in Mediation and Mediation Skills, delivered in partnership with Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
Thirty-seven local professionals received their certificates – and the event was especially exciting as 18 pupils from Grouville School also attended in celebration of the peer mediation scheme recently introduced by The Resolution Centre at the school.
The ceremony saw graduates and pupils congratulated by Bailiff, Sir Tim Le Cocq who became Patron of the Channel Islands Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in July 2021. Graduates received their certificates in front of friends, family, and supporters who were also in attendance.
Sir Tim said, “I was delighted to present the awards to this year’s graduating mediators. It is wonderful to see more people realise the power and potential of alternative dispute resolution. There are more than enough disputes in our world, and indeed in the Channel Islands, to make every alternative welcome, particularly if it allows a swifter and a gentler outcome to thrive.”
“Leaving aside criminal cases and things of that nature, I cannot recall any dispute in which I acted or over which I have presided that could not conceivably have been addressed by some form of alternate dispute resolution at an earlier stage.”
Speaking about the introduction of Peer Mediation at Grouville School Headteacher Nichola Turner said, “More than 50 children were taught mediation skills by The Resolution Centre team in September 2021 and since then, the Peer Mediation scheme has benefitted the whole school. As teachers, we are spending less time addressing problems that happen during lunchtime and at breaks and the children are developing core skills that will see them communicate, show empathy, and problem solve better.”
“Working again with The Resolution Centre, we will teach another 50 children about mediation in July, and they will become our new Peer Mediators from September. I am thrilled that the children have had the opportunity to be a part of the scheme and attend the graduation ceremony. This is a great opportunity for them.”
Howard Le Cornu of The Resolution Centre and Vice Chair of the Channel Islands Chartered Institute of Arbitrators said, “Welcoming new professional mediators – young and older – to our community is very exciting. We are seeing the demand for peacebuilding skills grow – from the classroom to the boardroom, and we hope before long, to the courtroom.
“At The Resolution Centre we are helping transform the way people engage with conflict, reducing the burden of it on teachers, leaders, and the courts whilst at the same time – in the words of one of Grouville School’s Peer Mediators, ‘creating more time to have fun’.”
The main picture shows pupils from Grouville School celebrating their achievements.
