Volunteers train for Justice Panel (From Chard & Ilminster News)

Volunteers train for Justice Panel

8:47am Monday 25th December 2006 in Chard By News reporter

THE News-backed Chard and Ilminster Community Justice Panel has spent three days training volunteers.

The justice panel is a restorative justice project which tackles low-level anti-social behaviour - often by bringing together victim and offender.

The conferencing facilitator training was delivered by panel co-ordinator Val Keitch and Andy Jenryck to help the volunteers use different methods of engaging with participants.

Val Keitch said: "This training represents a significant move forward for the panel and the way it operates.

"Conferencing works and is widely used throughout the world by police and other organisations for dealing with anti-social behaviour."

Volunteers (pictured)were presented with certificates by Chard deputy mayor Martin Wale, who praised the panel's work and its contribution to Chard.