-The greater potential for our well-being of political, economic & spiritual community drives Paul Crosland to stand in general elections & to write the “Relearning PCECSC trilogy“(or #PeskyTrilogy for short):Volume 1 - The Myth Of The Heartless Tory; Vol 2 - The Pioneering 108 Vagabond Custodians preparing for The Festival Of The New Society 2066; Vol 3 - Politics As A Spiritual Practice. These books will form the shares in “Refuge Tree Woods” where we gather to refine our organic plot…
"If you have stuff you want to share, but not give away, there are organisations that look after that also. Freelender.org allows you to post whatever items you own (and willing to share) – such as DVDs, sewing machines or a beach hut – and then borrow whatever items you need temporarily. And just like the capitalist economy, there is choice, with Letsallshare.com and Ecomodo.com taking a slightly different slant on the same concept. Resources and money are saved, neighbours brought together, and friendships made." (The Guardian, Moneyless Man)
Next Steps?
Why not join "The Lend-It-All Man" in offering what you can on freelender.org and seeing what it's like to open to a world of generosity. The 'New Society' you can create around you starts with you sharing. Register at freelender.org here, then add a sewing machine, a beach-hut or just a DVD.
(Borrow a Beach Hut Blog)
Having met over the jailbrake.org weekend, Aleksi and I now email/discuss over the main Safeground project issues and set up Restorative Technology Ltd in June 2010. The wider Safeground Team now use the Safeground Google Group
Our future will be determined significantly by how we handle our conflicts, how we share what we have and how we learn to build systems without waste. Blame culture creates massive waste and threatens our sustainability as a species on this planet.
Other approaches to conflict and possessions generate sharing, safety and growth. Mediation Support Limited supports the development of www.freelender.org and other initiatives building trust and resilient communities.
Having spent many key years in higher education I have an imclination/specialism towards understanding and criticizing. 9 or 10 of my 13-14 years in university (studying or employed) were when I was aged 25-35
At 35 I moved into 5 years working for a national charity. Since then, aged 40 I've had some official employment in a range of locations from another charity office to a prison to door-knocking as a charity fundraiser. Simultaneously in these years since I turned 40 I've worked just as much within the context of building companies which innovate in the fields of conflict and sharing. For background information, click the picture above to see a minute-long interview from "The Moral of the Story". On this ITV1 programme, Paul explained how ApologyPlus (-more than sorry) and Mediation Services(e.g.123 telephone mediation) can produce transformation for 'victim' and 'offender'.
Paul set up Mediation Support Ltd in 2006 as a strategy to share and develop the work of others who work with conflict. From 2007, Mediation Support Ltd has prioritised the conflict and change involved in the transition to a socio-economic order that is less dependent on oil.
The Transition Movement is about actively reducing our use of non-renewable power in ways that increase the quality of our lives.
(Sustainable Local Communities).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul intends to convert Mediation Support Ltd to a Community Interest Company within the next year, and would like to hear from you if you want Mediation Support to grow.
The rest of this page provides background information about Paul, written as a strategy to speed up the key processes of building our (potential) working relationship. Please let me know how you want to work with me by emailing me; other working opportunities will be available on www.mediationsupport.info
Biography and Inspirations: Since 2001 (including 5 years as Head of Restorative Justice at the national charity for mediation services, Mediation UK) Paul's work has included providing training, conferences and support to mediation services and restorative practitioners. His previous work was as a criminologist and a volunteer neighbour mediator. Paul has trained in workplace mediation and specialised as a co-ordinator of prison based restorative justice projects.
Since 2007 Paul has been in regular communication with the restorative practioner by whom he is most inspired - Dominic Barter. Dominic works both in Brazil and as an international restorative justice consultant.
Some Web-based information about Dominic's Work:
Dominic being interviewed in detail on the nature of empathy (2009) Video 2; Video 3.
Dominic's description of restorative processes is as follows: " We're talking about community processes based on circle-practices in which those involved in a conflict and members of their respective communities meet as equals with an explicit intention to:
- Repair harm that has been caused
- Restore a sense of dignity, security and justice.
- And reintegrate all into peaceful co-existence.
And to do that through a process of guided dialogue which empowers, heals, and connects, so that action is facilitated, both at an individual and a collective level, for mutual benefit."
(Dominic Barter)
Paul writes, "Both Dominic and the NVC-UK Network have greatly advanced my learning about restorative processes involving substitutes. A substitute who has trained in being able to hear what's important to you and express their authentic needs can provide a process that deepens understanding. This creates opportunities to find ways to get the needs met that, whilst unmet, are causing you pain. Distance deepens conflict and meeting a substitute might be a step towards meeting the actual person(s) with whom there is a conflict. Seeing how restorative processes do not require the engagement of the other enlarges the potential of these processes greatly."
"I am an innovative, team-building, senior manager, privileged to be working in the context of community mediation and victim-offender mediation at local and national levels. My networking has enabled me to make presentations to government ministers, generate the resources to launch successful projects, engage in quality assurance, and publish books which have set new standards and shared practitioner experiences. This work is continuing through Mediation Support Ltd, which has pro-typed a new type of mediation service for the future: 123 Telephone Mediation.
Meanwhile, I am also developing further web-based services for ensuring that you have those important conversations in ways more likely to ensure everyone's needs are heard and addressed. For this I am seeking further funding."
"Paul is a provider of invaluable links" (Alex Turner, Health Service Mediation)
Following work with the Home Office and criminal justice agencies to produce and publish restorative practice training, assessment and Best Practice Guidance materials, Paul was invited by the Prime Minister to be personally thanked for his work on behalf of victims of crime.
Freelending CIC (Company Number 6749438) (Founded November 2008) Founding Director (alongside Edmund Johnson) & Project Manager working on: freelender.org - community wealth sharing
Workplace Mediation (6 days, Conflict Management Plus), 2005-2006, Ealing
(This training was of a particularly high standard, delivered by a trainer and mediator of rare quality, Steve Hindmarsh)
2002-2009 Nonviolent Communication Foundation Course, & subsequent courses (approx 40 days training with NVC-UK Network Trainers / Marshall Rosenberg)
2001 Victim Support volunteer training course, Cambridge (approx. 4 days)
1999 Advanced Mediation training day (SEAMS), Suffolk
1997 Cambridge & District Community Mediation Service training for new mediators (approx. 5 days)
