Change lives through Restorative Justice this Christmas
Organised by Why me?This Christmas Why me? need your help, to ensure more lives are transformed through Restorative Justice and more people know about and can use this amazing tool.
Story
Being a victim of crime is traumatising and life-changing, and victims are often left feeling excluded, confused and revictimized by the criminal justice process. Christmas can be an incredibly challenging time for victims, but Restorative Justice provides a life-line and has the power to transform lives.
Lucy's story
Lucy was violently attacked in her home by her ex-partner, which left her hospitalised with life changing injuries. On that night Lucy's daughter was sleeping in another room but later awoke to find her mum, thinking she was dead. Lucy's ex-partner was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence.
I don't know where I would have been with him back in the real world. I spent six years locked indoors when he was behind bars. I probably would have been forever chasing my own tail.
The impact of the assault and the criminal justice process continued to affect Lucy for many years. With the potential of a parole hearing coming up, Lucy's anxiety about what might happen increased. That's when she agreed to Restorative Justice.
The best thing for me was seeing him as just one person. It was like just a big black massive cloud consuming my life...
In that moment I instantly got my power back, I got my life back. For me it was absolutely life changing. I came out and thought, this is the first day of the rest of my life.
How can I help?
Victims of crime need your support at Christmas. You can make a donation by clicking 'Give Now'. As a small charity, Why me? is grateful for any donations you can make. Here's how your donation can transform a life through Restorative Justice...
With your support, we can continue to deliver Restorative Justice and create change in our society. If you can't donate, you can help by sharing our page on social media and with your friends and family.
What is Restorative Justice?
Many victims of crime feel sidelined by the criminal justice process. Restorative Justice gives them the chance to ask questions about the incident, explain the impact that it had on them, and have a say in how the harm can be repaired. This restorative dialogue transforms lives by helping people affected by crime to recover, and helping people who commit crime to stop. Restorative Justice is a proven way to address trauma from crime and reduce re-offending and Why me? is the leading Restorative Justice organisation in England and Wales.
Restorative Justice has the power to transform lives. All victims of crime are entitled to information about Restorative Justice under the Victims Code of Practice, but the government's Crime Survey for England and Wales revealed only 5% of victims with a known offender recall being given information about it. This needs to change.
Our Ambassadors' stories are powerful illustrations of the impact Restorative Justice can have.
For more information or to discuss making a gift please contact Lucy at lucy.harris@why-me.org.
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