Diana Batchelor: An Intern’s Experience

I had just graduated and was interested in Restorative Justice but unsure of what kind of job I might do, so I thought I would volunteer over the summer to get an idea of the field and decide what to do next.

I looked up on the internet anyone who was doing anything related to Restorative Justice, somewhere near my home in Reading. After meeting Sue (Raikes) at the barn where the office is based and hearing about the many different projects I might get involved with or at least observe, I couldn’t wait to get started, despite the fact that Chilton turned out not to be particularly near Reading after all.

What followed was a summer full of travelling around the Thames Valley to meet remarkable people, sit in on useful meetings and to get involved with interesting work. Aside from the few unsurprising minute-taking tasks, everything they gave me to do stretched me and kept me fascinated. I was able to help with research on new and emerging topics, contribute to funding bids for thousands of pounds and co-create a new training program to be rolled out among communities and prisons across the Thames Valley. They say that interns are often under-valued, I felt quite the opposite.

Every member of the team, as well as a broad range of Thames Valley Partnership’s contacts in the field of crime prevention and community safety, were more than willing to share their valuable time with me and to answer my questions. I got a lot more than I bargained for. Thames Valley Partnership’s role in developing Restorative Justice across the Thames Valley meant that I had direct access to all the key players, I was able was able to gain an idea of the direction the British justice system is taking and to hear incredible stories of cases in which victims and offenders met to repair the harm caused by crime. Yet the internship also broadened my sights beyond Restorative Justice. I began to see how their diverse work fits together to produce a holistic approach that many organisations attempt, but often fail, to provide. Their perspective helped me to appreciate the bigger picture – understanding how statutory organisations do and don’t work together, where voluntary sector organisations fit in, how policy both enhances and limits practice, and how policy and practice interact with research.

I would recommend to anyone that taking time out to consider your values and goals before jumping into a career is a fantastic move. And if you are interested in any way in crime prevention and community safety, there is no better place to do it than in the caring and challenging context provided by Thames Valley Partnership.