Conflicts are resolved when relationships are repaired and trust is restored
Restorative process, a model for conflict management, is now beeing tried out in Grünerløkka District and is also the topic of one of the workshops at the conference “Storbyens hjerte og smerte”.
Aktuelt / Publisert: 08.05.2026
Av Bydel Grünerløkka — Velferdsetaten
New approaches to working with youth in conflict
How can we support young people in conflict in ways that build trust and lasting relationships? This is a key question at the Nordic professional conference Storbyens hjerte og smerte – a meeting place for professionals, practitioners, politicians, decision-makers and researchers working with young people and youth-related issues in Nordic cities.
With trust as a unifying theme, the conference explores how restorative approaches can offer more sustainable and humane responses to conflicts, shaping young lives and urban communities.
Restorative process, a model for conflict management, is now beeing tried out in Grünerløkka District. The district administration, Oslo’s municipal schools, the police, and the National Mediation Service, collaborate on the project.
Restorative process is also the topic of one of the workshops at the conference “Storbyens hjerte og smerte”, which takes place from 26–28 October at the Oslo Congress Center.
Read more about the conference "Storbyen hjerte og smerte" on the web-page.
- Date: 26–28 October 2026
- Venue: Oslo Congress Center, Oslo
- The City Conference “Storbyens hjerte og smerte” is held every two years in a Nordic city. This year, Oslo is the host.
- The Nordic Council initiated the conference, which has been held since 1996.
- The conference brings together leading Nordic researchers and practitioners working with children and young people, safety, social exclusion, and trust.
- The program combines professional plenary sessions, workshops, and cross‑disciplinary dialogue.
- Registration (early bird): https://ungnord.com/registration/
About trust
Restorative processes are based on trusting that the parties themselves can resolve their conflicts.
“The goal is to repair relationships and restore trust, rather than assigning blame or imposing punishment. The method is based on dialogue, responsibility, and voluntary participation,” says Camilla Farstad, SaLTo Coordinator in Grünerløkka District and Project Manager.
The National Mediation Service offers mediation nationwide
The National Mediation Service is a public service that offers mediation as a method for dealing with criminal offenses or conflicts. Mediators from the mediation service facilitate meetings between the involved parties. The service is free of charge, and anyone may contact the National Mediation Service directly. Cases are also referred directly to the service by the police.
Farstad herself has been a mediator with the National Mediation Service since 2003. Several schools and districts have adopted the method, or parts of it, but there is still significant potential for further development.
"By enabling staff in schools and districts—such as leisure and youth services—to facilitate restorative processes, we can prevent conflicts from escalating."
The National Mediation Service provides an arena for dialogue about incidents, conflicts, harms, and criminal acts. The parties involved, as well as others affected, are given the opportunity to participate actively in the preparation phase and during the meeting itself. Through the project, the National Mediation Service is strengthening its ties with parts of the local community to transfer knowledge about methods and practice. At the same time, it seeks to become more visible to an important target group—children and young people. The National Mediation Service operates nationwide and has mediators throughout the country.
"“Feedback from participants after mediation shows that they experienced having control over their own process, were able to articulate what mattered to them, and felt safer afterwards”"
Workshop on restorative processes
At the workshop during the City Conference, participants will be introduced to the National Mediation Service—a unique service that assists several thousand parties in conflict every year. Participants will gain insight into its core values and methodology.
“Participants will also meet staff from schools and youth clubs who collaborate with the National Mediation Service in the local project. The aim is to strengthen the use of restorative processes in preventive work,” says Farstad.
The workshop combines presentations, an introduction to the method, and dialogue with the workshop participants.
Hit the link to registrate for the conference: https://ungnord.com/registration/
- What is a Restorative Process? Restorative process (also known asrestorative practices) is a method of conflict management aimed at repairing relationships and restoring trust, rather than assigning blame or imposing punishment. The method is based on dialogue, responsibility, and voluntary participation. Mediation is one form of restorative process.
- Core principle. When a conflict or harm has occurred, the primary questions are not: “Who is at fault, and what is the appropriate punishment?” but rather: “Who has been affected, what are the needs now, and how can the harm be repaired?”
- How does the method work? The parties meet face to face to talk things through, so that together they can agree on how to move forward. Participation is voluntary, and the meeting is led by an impartial mediator. Prior to the meeting, thorough preparatory work is carried out, which includes separate conversations with each party.
- Read more on the National Mediation Service’s website.
