The Restorative Justice Development Grant will be distributed among all 158 youth offending teams (YOTs) in England and Wales so they can provide basic training in the practice for all staff.
The cash, which will be issued in three parts over the next two years, will also cover the cost of advanced training for staff who have already received initial training.
Restorative justice has been gaining popularity in youth justice circles in recent years as an effective alternative to taking more formal action.
It brings together victims and offenders involved in an incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.
This can include a face-to-face meeting, a community conference – involving several members of the affected community – or indirect communication, such as a written letter or a recorded video message.
The advanced-level training, accredited by the Restorative Justice Council, will enable YOTs to provide restorative justice services to victims of more complex cases, such as violent offences.
YJB chief executive Lin Hinnigan said: “This grant will enable more YOT staff to receive restorative justice training, including the advanced-level training, and thereby increase the opportunities for victims to participate in safe and competent restorative justice activities.
“Currently most restorative justice services are provided to victims of typically lower-level offences and where the young person has received a referral order.
“Over the next two years, YOTs will be able to broaden the restorative justice services to include those cases involving more serious offences where the young person has got a community order, or a custodial sentence.”
So far around 2,400 youth offending team staff and volunteers have completed basic restorative justice training as a result of a previous YJB grant.
