Small Steps for Peace at Warrington

SCHOOL children from across the North-West are attending a graduation ceremony at Warrington’s iconic Peace Centre today.
They have completed a groundbreaking peace education programme designed by the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation.
Small Steps for Peace is an interactive peace education course 9-10 year-olds.
The course aims to help children understand the causes of conflict and gain awareness of the impact and consequences of violence as well as practicing problem solving in creative ways and in collaborative group settings.
Children from five, Liverpool and Burnley primary schools were being presented with certificates by Colin and Wendy Parry, co-founders of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation.
Joining Mr and Mrs Parry to present certificates was Ian Snodin, representing Everton Football Club. The tough-tackling midfielder made 190 appearances for the club before moving to Oldham Athletic in 1994.
Project lead Ciara Kinsella said: “Small Steps for Peace is generating an incredibly positive response from pupils and teachers. Our teachers pack includes a book, games and interactive exercises which are simple to run and understand and help young people explain and address their feelings with confidence. Small Steps for Peace gives children the tools to resolve problems without resorting to violence, which is essential as they approach their teenage years and adulthood.”
Nick Taylor, chief executive of the Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Peace Foundation said: “The Government is setting up a commission to counter extremism and promote British values in schools. We think it must go further, talking about fundamental human values like compassion, courage and kindness. These are difficult to teach but they can be learned through experience. We want to see Peace Studies as part of the syllabus for schools across the region.”
The Peace Foundation’s #WeStandTogether campaign aims to get peace studies taught in all schools across the region.