TEENAGERS in Waltham Forest are set to use mediation skills to tackle conflict in their communities.

Following a special event organised by charity Leap Confronting Conflict, Year 10 students from Lammas, George Mitchell and Leytonstone Schools will use their new skills to resolve disputes.

The students have already been given peer mediation training but joined up with youngsters from Dagenham Brook School to share ideas on how to use their skills in the wider community.

Peer link project manager Natalie Hewison said: “We brought together about 65 young people from the schools.

“They are all peer mediators. The idea is that young people can resolve conflict themselves rather than going to teachers and bringing in punishments or sanctions.”

The idea is that if there is a conflict within a school or elsewhere, those involved can go a peer mediator to discuss the issue instead of letting the situation escalate.

Students can then avoid having to involve adults or resorting to violence to solve conflict.

Miss Hewison added: “The students took part in workshops and built relationships instead of staying within their own area and being territorial.

“They thought about how they can use their skills at home if there's a conflict with a sister or brother or parents.”

Students from each school also gave presentations on how they have used their skills so far and the effect this has had on their schools.

“One school did a presentation about a conflict they resolved with somebody's brother who was from outside the school,” Miss Hewison said.

Peer mediators will first be approached by one of the parties involved in a conflict and will then speak to each separately so that they can then come together and talk about it, she explained.

Teachers were also involved in group sessions at the event and are set to encourage students to continue using mediation at school.