Guiding Principles & Code of Practice

Guiding Principles

Towards Understanding and Healing was developed to create the opportunity for significant conversations between people who have been affected by the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland. To this end, space is made possible where people can safely engage in storytelling or dialogue. There are a variety of organisations doing positive and effective work around storytelling and dialogue throughout Northern Ireland. Towards Understanding and Healing is just one of those organisations that are providing this type of service. In order to help define the work of the organisation, its unique aspects and the way in which it can compliment the work of other organisations, the following Guiding Principles have been established:  

Diversity

This is one of the most important principles that guides the work of TUH. The organisation seeks to involve as wide a diversity of individuals and groups as possible in its events and activities. Voices from a variety of perspectives related to the Troubles are sought out by the organisation for involvement. As well as encouraging “intra” and “inter” community dialogue, TUH facilitates work with existing groups and creates new opportunities for engagement for people that do not otherwise get opportunities to have their voices heard.

Encouraging New Voices

TUH works to be instrumental in identifying people who do not belong to any group and giving them the opportunity to tell their story. Along with this, the organisation seeks to encourage people who feel they do not have a voice to build the confidence to express their experiences.

Risk Taking

TUH was created to make possible deep, meaningful conversations that address contentious issues. Designed around the idea of taking safe, calculated risks, the organisation emphasises challenging conversations that require participants to stretch themselves. It is hoped that this risk taking on the part of the organisation and the participants will yield benefits to individuals, communities and the society, as a whole. 

Creativity

TUH recognises the value of the arts in self-expression. To that end, the organisation uses art, music, dance, and other forms of creative expression to facilitate storytelling.  In this way, the organisation is engaged in creating new ways of personal and community storytelling. 

International Learning

From its inception, TUH has been strongly influenced by its international ties. The organisation believes that it can be invaluable to hear stories from around the world to: prevent insularity, provide hope and inspiration, provide acknowledgement and learn new ways to approach long-standing conflict. Speakers, presenters and facilitators that can serve as compassionate empathisers are used for many TUH events and activities. 

Re-Humanisation

The protracted conflict experienced in Northern Ireland has resulted in extreme stereotypes and demonisation of individuals and communities. TUH encourages the “re-humanising” of those who have been demonised through the conflict, by promoting new ways of thinking and creating the opportunity for significant encounters.

Leaving a Legacy

TUH is aware that the present generations are coping, on a daily basis, with a legacy left to them by previous generations. TUH is committed to leaving a different legacy for future generations. Through addressing the effects of conflict head-on, engaging in activities that contribute to the healing of trauma and providing people with a forum to articulate their stories, the organisation hopes to be one of the agents of change in creating a post-conflict society.  

Code of Practice

Towards Understanding and Healing exists to provide people with opportunities for dialogue and storytelling which are intended to open them to new understandings and opportunities for healing. In creating space for people to think, process, and discuss their experiences with the Troubles, the organisation is opening people to the possibility of change. Towards Understanding and Healing recognises that these types of processes, while rewarding, can also be challenging and can create a feeling of vulnerability for people. With this in mind, the following Code of Ethics has been developed to ensure safety and professionalism in every aspect of the work carried out by the organisation:  

Flexibility

Participants have different needs regarding articulating their own experiences and encountering the experiences of others. For this reason, TUH employs both storytelling and dialogue as types of encounters offered to participants. Storytelling is a process by which participants are able to tell their stories and hear the stories of others in a fully supportive atmosphere. Dialogue is a process that allows participants to exchange ideas and ask questions around critical issues. In some cases, a two-tiered process—storytelling, then dialogue—will be used when participants want or need to engage in both processes. A variety of styles of encounters will be used, including: residential weekends, short and long-term groups, and conferences. Storytelling and dialogue will take place on both single identity and cross community bases. 

Safety

TUH recognises the personal investment individuals make when engaging in storytelling and/or dialogue. In honouring this, TUH has created a variety of approaches to make processes as safe and comfortable as possible for participants. Policies and procedures guiding Health and Safety, as well as the professional management of the organisation are set in place and are actively used in the daily operation of the organisation. Effective methodologies identified by the Staff and Management Committee of TUH are used in all processes conducted by the organisation. Venues are selected with safety and neutrality in mind. Facilitators are carefully selected based on the needs of each group, and are extensively trained and prepared for all TUH activities and events with which they participate. 

Effectiveness

Due to the extensive planning required to prepare for events in a safe and effective manner, TUH will ensure that the amount of events or activities facilitated by the organisation will be limited to the number that can be achieved  in a quality way. 

Transparency

All activities or events organised by TUH will be clearly explained to potential participants before they agree to participate in such events. Openness about what each storytelling or dialogue process will involve, the diversity of the backgrounds of people represented at the event and general information about the facilitation team will be outlined with each participant, on an individual level, well before the start of the event.

Preparation

In order to ensure that all participants in TUH events and activities are aware of the details of the process and are prepared for that type of process, a member of staff will meet with each participant on an individual basis before the start of the event. In the case of storytelling events, storytelling groups will be pre-selected to ensure that they are balanced and that they contain members who will benefit from telling their story and hearing the stories of the others in the group. Effective training and preparation will be provided to all facilitation teams prior to the start of the event.

Co-facilitation

In small group storytelling or dialogue processes, which might be intense for both the participants and the facilitators, co-facilitation will be used as much as possible. This will allow support for the facilitators and a more effective and diverse approach to facilitation, which will be of benefit to the participants. 

Follow-Up

For many participants, the true impact of a storytelling or dialogue experience comes in the days and weeks following the encounter. TUH has set up a system of follow-up to provide connection and support to participants following an event or activity. On the last day of residentials, participants are given a packet of information that contains contact information to other organisations and services that can provide continued support. In the week following residentials, participants are contacted by a member of staff. Ongoing contact is maintained with all past participants following all events or activities, and participants are often invited into both facilitative and non-facilitative roles within the organisation.

Confidentiality

To feel comfortable telling their stories, most people need to know that they are in complete control of how and to whom their stories are told. The policies of TUH are designed to maintain confidentiality in every interaction participants have with the organisation. For specific aspects of TUH’s confidentiality policies, see the Policies and Procedures manual. 

Integrity in Work with Other Organisations

TUH believes that a unified approach is often the most effective way of providing services to individuals and communities. To that end, the organisation is committed to maintaining integrity in its interactions with other groups and remaining open to other groups in a way that makes possible new ideas and opportunities. TUH is aware of the need to protect the confidentiality and safety of its participants in all of its interactions with other organisations. Joint work will not be initiated, nor will the names or contact information of participants be passed on to other organisations without the notification and permission of all participants affected.

 

— Download the Employee Policies and Procedures Manual