It is a busy and exciting time for the Restorative Justice All-Party Parliamentary Group and Advisory Board, with the upcoming Victims Bill and pre-election cycle we are opening the membership to help support our capacity as we look to finish this busy year.
The APPG Advisory Board is represented by organisations involved across all sectors of restorative justice and practice, these include the practice and delivery of restorative practices, those involved in academia, charities and NGOs. Advisory Board Members use their unique insight and experience to provide strategic counsel and advice to the APPG Members, which are comprised of MP’s and Peers from all parties in Westminster.
The APPG is keen to welcome up to 15 organisations onto the AB for this coming year and is seeking a diverse group of stakeholders to help support the emerging work programme of the group. Those in the backgrounds of education, higher education, the health service and the wider community are particularly encouraged to apply to join the Advisory Board given the APPG’s interest in multiple disciplines.
Jim Simon, the current Chair of the Advisory Board commented:
“The Advisory Board plays an important role in supporting MP’s and Peers drive forward cross-party conversations on restorative justice in its many forms. Now, more than ever, the Advisory Board have the opportunity to work closely with APPG members to address many of the significant challenges faced by the restorative sector. This starts with ensuring that Victims and Prisoner Bill includes an entitlement for all victims to receive information about restorative justice. Having chaired the Advisory Board for the last 3 years, I can see the impact our advice has had in enabling the APPG to raise the profile of restorative justice across government. Ensuring that we have an Advisory Board which represents the diversity of practice across the restorative sector is vital and I would strongly encourage organisations to be part of this of this remarkable group of dedicated MP’s and Peers.”
Membership of the Advisory Board provides unique opportunities to engage with MP’s and Peers on key issues within the sector. Membership of the Board, in line with common APPG practices, will also come with a requirement to help support the resourcing of the Group to meet the costs of the 2022-23 work stream. Our priority for the rest of the year focuses on our three workstreams, which look to support work in the devolved administrations of NI, Scotland, and Wales, to broaden the reach of the APPG within Westminster, and to scrutinise policy and legislation such as the Victims Bill.
If you wish to express an interest in joining the Advisory Board, please direct all enquiries to CalComms, the Group Secretariat. Please email jack@calcomms.co.uk for further details or call 0203 813 5559.
