Dr Belinda Hopkins - (Executive Director)

Belinda Hopkins is the Director of Transforming Conflict. She pioneered the application of restorative principles in school settings in the UK in the late 1990's and created the first training course in restorative skills developed specifically for teachers. Belinda and her team also use her books ‘Just Schools’ (JKP 2004) and ‘Just Care’ (JKP 2009), the former being the first book to ever be written about using restorative approaches in schools and the latter playing a similar pioneering role in the field of residential child care

In order to remain at the cutting edge of developments in the field Belinda spent six years researching the experiences of those who have been implementing restorative approaches in their schools. The results form the first doctoral thesis in this field, completed in 2006 at the University of Reading. This autumn Belinda will join Reading University’s Institute of Education on a part-time basis to further develop training opportunities for teachers in restorative approaches, including conflict resolution and mediation.

Her team of highly experienced trainers, some of whom fit the training into their regular restorative work and some who are freelance, include: 

Caroline Newton

A qualified social worker, Caroline has over 25 years experience in the fields of residential care, youth work, youth justice and education. She became interested in Restorative Justice whilst working in a Youth Offending Team and then became a full-time secondary school Restorative Approaches Worker. She currently works across a whole borough with teams and schools who are implementing Restorative Approaches.

Paul Moran

Paul works as a freelance trainer and consultant offering courses for Transforming Conflict.  He has worked previously at The Sefton Centre for Restorative Practice and also currently works with the Hull Centre for Restorative Practice.  He has worked restoratively in educational, care and criminal justice settings.

Phillip Bence

Phil also works as a freelance trainer and consultant offering courses for Transforming Conflict.  Previously he worked at Bolton Mediation, as a mediation and conflict management trainer, primarily in school settings.

Gordon Richardson

Gordon is a registered social worker with an MSc Applied Social Studies (Oxford University). He has 28 years experience with young people, and 11 as a Restorative Justice practitioner. He spent 18 months with Thames Valley Police HQ RJ Consultancy and is currently lead manager for RJ in Oxfordshire YOT. Before joining this team, Gordon co-wrote two RJ courses: one for residential settings and one for Thames Valley Police.

Sue Lee

Sue is a recently retired infant head teacher with experience in infant and primary schools. Her experience in these settings makes her an ideal consultant and trainer for those wanting to implement a restorative approach at this level. She is particularly interested in the impact restorative approaches can have on Early Years education and parenting.

Ian Gough

Ian has a background working in a Youth Offending Team and has recently been very involved developing peer mediation schemes in schools. His experience as a scout leader makes him an ideal person to work in a lively and engaging way with young people.

Mari Martin

Mari Martin works for the Barnet Youth Offending Team and is Restorative Justice in Schools Co-ordinator. She is successfully rolling restorative approaches out through Barnet schools and was behind an award winning DVD on this subject.

Tracy Parsons

Tracy is our office superwoman, dealing with all administrative matters, and is also our Finance Officer. If she cannot answer your queries when you ring or e-mail us then she will refer you to one of the team who can help.

Sue Fraser

Sue has been teaching in a residential SEBD school for boys for 10 years. She teaches Emotional Literacy as an explicit subject. Her own practice was transformed following Tranforming Conflict training 6 years ago and using restorative approaches in and out of the classroom has given her huge personal satisfaction. She has now trained as a trainer to help others reap the rewards of working restoratively with youngsters in challenging settings.

Laris Bucknor-Fisher

Laris Bucknor-Fisher works as a freelance Coach and trainer having retired from work in Haringey's Youth Offending Service where she was also instrumental in training teachers, YOS workers and other professionals in the Restorative Approach. She has years of experience of working in variety of settings with children and Young People.