Welcome to the opportunity to contribute to a special collection of 100 restorative stories from across Portsmouth.
This exciting initiative forms part of the city’s 100-year celebration and is being led by Portsmouth Mediation Service, which is also celebrating its 30th anniversary.
We are inviting stories and images from anyone with an inspiring example of relational and restorative practice—whether from your workplace, home, or community.
This unique project has grown out of the Relational & Restorative Practice Community of Inquiry, supported by Portsmouth City Council, the University of Portsmouth, and members of the voluntary and community sector.
Initially, the stories and images will be displayed on this page. However, in the coming weeks and months, we hope to bring these powerful, vision-inspiring stories to life in new and creative ways—potentially showcasing them on buildings and walls across Portsmouth. We are also exploring other innovative formats, such as “liquid books.”
How It Works
- Click the link: Submit Your Restorative Story. Here, you can share your story and upload a photograph or your organisation’s logo.
- You will receive confirmation once your story has been successfully submitted. It will then be reviewed.
- Once approved, your story will be published. If any amendments are needed, we will contact you as soon as possible
We are confident that there are many positive and heartwarming stories of people across Portsmouth helping to build peace and prosperity through restorative practice. By sharing what is transforming our own families and communities, we hope to inspire others to follow.
Latest Stories
- Coming Full Circle
By Sue Knight, The Aftershock Project. Growing up, I did not have the language for much of what I was witnessing around me. I grew up in an Armed Forces family. My father served as a bomb disposal operator in Northern Ireland, my mother served, and later my brother also deployed overseas. Like many military…
Read more - From Migration to Connection Through Art and Movement
By Sally Zurita, Bailando with Sally. As a Bolivian woman who migrated to the UK, I experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to rebuild identity, connection, and emotional wellbeing in a new environment. Throughout my life, dance and art became more than creative expression — they became tools for healing, resilience, and belonging. What…
Read more - Portsmouth Terraced
By Nadiya, Portsmouth Mediation Service. The terraced house had once been a family home before being divided into two rented flats. Poor soundproofing meant the building carried noise constantly. Every footstep upstairs echoed below, while conversations downstairs travelled clearly through the ceilings and walls.Upstairs lived a domestic abuse survivor and family member who had rented…
Read more - An Encounter On Southsea Beach
By Elaine Hamilton, Portsmouth Mediation Service. One windy evening on Southsea beach during the summer of 2025, I was trying to wrestle myself dressed after a swim with my towel and clothing flapping like a ship’s flag in a storm, when a medium-sized mongrel appeared at my feet and began barking wildly at me. Unhelpful,…
Read more - A Restorative USP
By Steve Rolls, Portsmouth Mediation Service. Back in 2015, Portsmouth Mediation Service took a bold step and redefined our purpose through what we came to call our Restorative USP. (unique selling point) We recognised that when people needed Mediation the situation had already gone too far. We understood the toll that conflict takes, the anxiety,…
Read more - Restorative Story – Two Boys
By Sue Austin, Portsmouth Mediation Service. I was asked whether our service could support a situation following an incident at a primary school, where one boy had been harmed by another. Initially, the boy responsible received a short suspension and then returned to school. The boys were kept apart, as the boy who had been…
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