Our project Peacemakers share news of a celebration with young peer-mediators that they have been working with.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, visited St Peter’s Catholic Primary School to celebrate the achievements of 12 children. The year 5 pupils have completed an intensive three-day Peer Mediation training programme delivered by Peacemakers.
Principal Natasha Mellor warmly welcomed the Lord Mayor to the final day of training, where he observed pupils developing the skills needed to help their classmates peacefully resolve playground conflicts and watched a sample mediation. Natasha approached Peacemakers believing the programme aligned strongly with the school’s core values, particularly its commitment to peace, restorative practice, and student leadership. Natasha said:
“We were delighted to welcome the Lord Mayor, he was very impressed with the Peacemakers programme and our Peer Mediators. He commented on their maturity and how they mediated a resolution to a problem. He was so interested in the children and gave a wonderful question and answer session to the school. He shared his struggles with reading and writing at school and told the children, ‘never let anything hold you back, learn all you can from every opportunity life presents to you- you can achieve great things’.”
One of the children said “Wow! His chain is so expensive!”
Peer mediation empowers young people to resolve disputes independently, encouraging responsibility, empathy and communication. The newly trained mediators expressed pride in their roles, with one child sharing: “I enjoyed learning how to approach difficult situations.” Another added “I can’t wait to help the children on the playground if they have any problems”.
A passionate advocate for the power of education, the Lord Mayor enjoyed watching the mediators in action and took time to answer questions from children across the school. He said
“The Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity is delighted to support Peacemakers work in schools because it’s a wonderful example of a local good cause that positively impacts our community.“
Peacemakers, which works across the West Midlands, supports children, young people and educators to develop the skills for everyday peace. Libbs Packer, Schools Co-ordinator, explained:
“Peace education is about developing the tools, skills and confidence to build peace within ourselves, in our relationships, and in the wider world. When children learn for peace, they understand and communicate their emotions, get along better, and feel more equipped to navigate the challenges they face as they grow. The Lord Mayor encouraged the children to believe they could pursue any path in life, and after watching them demonstrate their mediation skills, he remarked that they might one day even aspire to roles within the United Nations.”
The training at St Peter’s was made possible through a grant from The Lord Mayor of Birmingham’s Charity, enabling the delivery of the Peer Mediation Plus programme. This whole-school initiative provides workshops, coaching and practical exercises that help pupils learn key skills such as active listening, empathy and finding common ground. Staff are also trained to ensure the programme is embedded and sustained.
The value of peer mediation was recently highlighted in the Civil Mediation Council’s report, “Resolving Conflict in Schools: Peer Mediation as a Foundation for Happier, Healthier Futures,” which notes its significant positive impact on school communities and “demonstrates the huge benefits of mediation in schools, not only in terms of conflict resolution but as a driver of change” from the Foreword by Lady Justice Asplin DBE, Lead Judge for ADR for the Judiciary.
Just as children learn the building blocks of English and Maths, Peacemakers emphasise that peacebuilding skills can – and should – be taught. Peace education encourages staff to reflect on their practice and supports the creation of calmer, more connected school environments. Schools in the West Midlands wishing to introduce peer mediation can contact Peacemakers.
If you would like to help Peacemakers create the next generation of peacemakers to extend their peace education work to more schools and communities please donate via their website.