Restorative Peace-Making
Circles Training
For Professionals across Youth Services, Family Resource Centres, Social Work, Homeless Services, Women’s Refuges and other Child and Family-Focused Supports
Restorative Peace-Making Circles strongly support the work of professionals across youth services, family resource centres, social work, homeless services, women’s refuges and other child and family-focused supports by creating safe, structured spaces for honest dialogue, accountability and healing. Circles allow children, parents, families and professionals to be heard respectfully, helping to reduce conflict, rebuild trust and address harm without blame or escalation. They are particularly valuable in situations involving trauma, breakdown in relationships, or high emotional stress, as the process promotes empathy, shared understanding and collective problem-solving. By strengthening relationships and empowering participants to take responsibility and find their own solutions, Restorative Peace-Making Circles help services work more effectively, prevent repeat conflict and support long-term wellbeing for individuals, families and communities.
This two-session Restorative Peace-Making Circle training will equip professionals working with children and families with practical, trauma-informed skills to confidently facilitate and participate in restorative conversations in their everyday work. Participants will learn the core principles of circle practice, how to create safe and inclusive spaces, and how to respond to conflict, harm and heightened emotions with clarity and compassion. The training provides hands-on experience, reflection and tools that can be immediately applied in youth services, family support, social work, shelters and community settings, strengthening relationships, reducing conflict and supporting more sustainable, person-centred outcomes.
2-Days of Intensive Training
specially tailored for professionals working with children,
families and communities at the
Athlone Family Resources Centre,
on xx.xx. & xx.xx 2026, 10.00 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.
Day One:
Foundations of Restorative Peace-Making Circles
10.00 – 10.30 | Welcome & Opening Circle
Introductions and intentions
Establishing shared values, agreements and psychological safety
Brief overview of Restorative Peace-Making Circles and their relevance to participants’ roles
10.30 – 11.15 | Restorative Practice & Trauma-Informed Foundations
Core principles of restorative and Peace-Making approaches
Understanding trauma, power, voice and safety
Why circles work with children, families and communities
11.15 – 11.30 | Break
11.30 – 12.45 | Circle Structure & Facilitation Skills
Roles of the circle keeper
Use of talking pieces, guidelines and ceremony
Experiencing a live circle focused on connection and trust
12.45 – 1.30 | Lunch
1.30 – 2.30 | Circles in Practice: Building Connection & Belonging
Connection circles for teams, families and service users
Adapting circles for different settings (youth work, shelters, social work)
Small group practice and reflection
2.30 – 2.45 | Break
2.45 – 3.30 | Reflection, Integration & Closing Circle
Reflecting on learning from Day One
Questions, insights and challenges
Closing circle to consolidate learning
Day Two:
Responding to Conflict, Harm & Challenging Behaviour
10.00 – 10.30 | Reconnection & Opening Circle
Check-in and reflections from Day One
Revisiting agreements and intentions
10.30 – 11.30 | Circles for Conflict, Harm & Repair
Understanding harm, accountability and repair
Using circles to respond to conflict, aggression and breakdown in relationships
Preparing participants and assessing readiness
11.30 – 11.45 | Break
11.45 – 12.45 | Managing Strong Emotions & Power Dynamics
Holding safety when emotions are high
Managing confrontation, resistance and silence
Supporting vulnerable participants
12.45 – 1.30 | Lunch
1.30 – 2.30 | Practice: Restorative Peace-Making in Real-World Scenarios
Guided practice using case examples from participants’ work
Peer feedback and facilitator support
Ethical considerations and boundaries
2.30 – 2.45 | Break
2.45 – 3.30 | Bringing Circles into Your Work & Closing Circle
Practical next steps for implementation
Supporting yourself as a practitioner
Final reflections and closing circle
