There are many ways to set up a peer mediation network within a school or organisation. Oftentimes schools require creative solutions to ensure that peer mediation can take place, due to time and budget constraints. Options and alternatives will be discussed before and during the training to determine the best way for each individual school/organisation to take peer mediation forward. Furthermore all the necessary information as well as helpful tools and resources will be provided for the practical aspects of setting up a peer mediation service. However the school must be committed to supporting peer mediation and to incorporating peer mediation and conflict resolution into the school culture.
Practical considerations that we can help figure out include:
- Ways of informing the school/organisation about peer mediation,
- Ways of promoting peer mediation as a conflict resolution practice
- What space to use for peer mediation,
- When to do peer mediation
- How to organise the peer mediators and service,
- How to handle peer mediation referrals and cases,
- How to support peer mediation
Another consideration within schools when setting up a peer mediation service is how to ensure its sustainability within time and budget restraints. Again this is something that we would be able to help with. Once peer mediation training has been completed there are a number of things we can help with figuring out in terms of supporting the sustainability of the peer mediation service without costs attached.
These include:
- How to train future years/groups of peer mediators
- How staff and teachers can support the service
- How to ensure the service is used properly
- How to incorporate peer mediation in the school ethos
- How to involve and inform parents about the service
- How to link up with other local schools (primary and high school)
This is a document addressing some issues and potential solutions concerning sustainability of peer mediation in schools:
Sustainability Tool – Common Challenges and Potential Solutions
