Faculty plays host to SCCR reception

Established in 2014, the SCCR recognises that conflict in relationships can have a significant impact on the lives of those involved, and it promotes best practice in mediation, conflict resolution and early intervention. Its work has a particular focus on young people and families - family relationship breakdown is one of the biggest causes of youth homelessness.

The Faculty is a supporter of the SCCR, and the Dean of Faculty, James Wolffe QC, was asked to welcome guests to the annual reception, held in the Reading Room.

“I was first introduced to the work of the centre by my colleague, Stephen O’Rourke. I was struck by the simplicity and strength of the insight that an effective way of addressing youth homelessness may be to tackle the family conflict which is often associated with it,” said Mr Wolffe.

“As the head of an organisation which has been concerned with dispute resolution in Scotland for nearly 500 years, it seemed to me that this was a cause with which I wanted to be associated, and I have been glad to support the work of the centre.”

The annual reception reflected on the work of the SCCR to date, and looked to the future, under new Scottish government funding, the Children, Young People and Families Early Intervention Fund.

Mr Wolffe said that, for him, one of the highlights of the last year had been the centre’s Human Rights Day seminar, held in the Faculty’s Mackenzie Building and chaired by Ailsa Carmichael QC. The contributors had included Lady Dorrian, the newly-appointed Lord Justice Clerk, and Tam Baillie, the Children’s Commissioner.

“This event reflected the common interest of the Faculty and of the centre, not only in the protection of the rights and freedoms of all Scotland’s citizens but in the effective resolution of conflict where it exists, not least in encouraging Scotland’s young people to be active citizens, able to deal effectively with conflict when it arises in their lives. I hope it may be a template for future similar events…and I look forward to considering how the Faculty’s interest in the centre’s work may be further developed.”

More details of the SCCR at: http://scottishconflictresolution.org.uk/