Click the links below to see a range of YouTube videos featuring Ray & Vi Donovan:
Ray and Vi speaking about the power of Restorative Justice at the Restorative Gloucestershire Conference 31st Oct 2014
1. Ray and Vi tell their story to ex offenders in a church in Brixton
Brutally murdered teenager - parents talk of change |
|

|
2. Home truths Part two Restorative Justice
In 2001 Christopher Donovan was murdered in a senseless killing that saw his
assailants handed lengthy jail sentences. Just over a decade later, his parents
Ray and Vi discuss in detail the ordeal and its aftermath, as well as their
experiences meeting their son's killers face to face. |
|

|
3. Home Truths Part One
In 2001 Christopher Donovan was murdered in a senseless killing that saw his
assailants handed lengthy jail sentences. Just over a decade later, his parents
Ray and Vi discuss in detail the ordeal and its aftermath, as well as their
experiences meeting their son's killers face to face. |
|

|
4. Do Some Crimes Deserve The Death Penalty? (The Big Questions)
Nicky Campbell presents The Big Questions live from Ashton Park School in
Bristol. The 'Big Question' is "Do some crimes deserve the death penalty?"
Guests include Dr. Michael Naughton of The Innocence Network UK, Mail on Sunday
columnist Peter Hitchens, Christian barrister Mark Mullins, Vi and Ray Donovan
from the Chris Donovan Trust, broadcaster James O'Brien, Michael O'Brien (who
spent time in prison after he was wrongly convicted of murder), columnist Bruce
Anderson, and the moronic David Musa Pidcock from the Islamic Party of Britain,
who makes the astonishing claim that the 9/11 and 7/7 terrorists were
innocent!!! (BBC The Big Questions, 29th April 2012)
|
|

|
5. Speaking on ITV News
Speaking on ITV news |
|

|
6. An interview with Kate Garraway
An interview with Kate Garraway |
|

|
7. Chris Donovan Trust was mentioned in the houses of parliament
Chris Donovan Trust was mentioned in the houses of parliament |
|

|
8. This week has been a busy week for Public Service students who joined the Sociology and FDA Criminology students for a talk about Restorative Justice
This week has been a busy week for Public Service students who joined the
Sociology and FDA Criminology students for a talk about Restorative Justice from
the Chris Donovan Trust.
The Chris Donovan Trust is a non-profit charitable organisation set up by Vi and
Ray Donovan who in 2001 experienced the tragic loss of their son Chris through
violence. Using their own devastating experience they want to help educate
people about the impact of crime on the victim, their family and wider society.
They do so by sharing their story and experience to a wide audience including
students, criminal justice professionals, victims of crime and offenders. Their
talk gave the students an emotional and real picture of how horrific violent
crime is. Students were captivated by the Donovans who talked about respect not
being gained through violence but by being true to yourself, thinking about your
actions and ultimately through forgiveness.
They took students on a journey with them; from the night they were told their
son had been senselessly murdered by three teenagers to ten years later when
they met the offenders. Restorative justice finally gave Vi and Ray a voice and
enabled them to meet the offenders and ask ‘’why?’ A question that the Criminal
justice System could not answer for them.
Vi and Ray did not sugar coat their loss or experiences; they opened up their
hearts to the students. They taught students that Crime has a ripple effect and
one action can affect so many people, as Ray said to the students ‘You are now
part of that Ripple’. They were also joined by Local police officers who
discussed their experiences of using Restorative justice and the impact it has
on the victim, offender and their own professional lives.
Students from the Uniformed Public Services Course were then fortunate to visit
the brand new custodial suite at Gloucestershire Police Headquarters in
Gloucester. The students were able to question the Custody Sergeant and the
Custodial Manager on the day to day running of the suite and how the police
process and manage those detainees who are held in custody. The visit coincided
with the study of a related units including Custodial Care Services.
For further information please contact richard.stonebridge@cirencester.ac.uk or
mandy.fisher@cirencster.ac.uk or http://www.chrisdonovantrust.org/
http://www.restorativegloucestershire.co.uk/ |
|

|
9. Chris Donovan Trust - Interview at Celeb FC Charity Football #SparksFooty 2016
Chris Donovan Trust - Interview at Celeb FC Charity Football #SparksFooty 2016 |
|

|
10. TV interview with 100 Huntley in Canada
When Ray and Vi Donovan were awoken in the early hours of Saturday morning to
the horrific news that their two sons had been brutally attacked by a gang while
walking to a friend’s house that night, they felt as though their world had
ended. The couple discovered that one of their sons, Christopher, was fighting
for his life in hospital. He later died from his injuries. This touching an
often heart wrenching testimony shows how, through their faith in God and the
Restorative Justice system, Ray and Vi have been able to accept that
Christopher’s death was not in vain and that his legacy lives on as a force for
good in the world. In an extraordinary show of compassion, they have managed to
forgive the people who senselessly murdered their son. Ray and Vi have gone on
to help many families, victims and offenders. Their powerful story will
challenge anyone who is struggling to forgive and to discover the peace that
comes with being able to do so. Ray & Vi tell their story in their new book
"Restored & Forgiven"
|
|

|
11. Ray and Vi Donovan share the story of their son's murder and why they forgave the men who murdered him
Ray and Vi Donovan share the story of their son's murder and why they forgave the
men who murdered him |
|

|
12. Facing the Canon
A chat show with Canon J John |
|

|
13. Forgiveness
Doug Harris is in conversation with John Mosey and Ray and Vi Donovan on the
subject of Forgiveness. This program was first broadcast on Simply the Truth,
Revelation TV, 5 June 2012. |
|

|
14. Brutally murdered teenager - parents talk of change
Ray & Vi Donovan talk of the transformation to their life brought about by the
brutal murder of their son on 28 May 2001. And how that change effected their lives
and others. For those struggling with forgiveness, bitterness and dreams of
vengeance... |
|

|
15. Do Some Crimes Deserve The Death Penalty? (The Big Questions)
The Big Questions live from Ashton Park School, Bristol. The \'Big Question\' is
\"Do
some crimes deserve the death penalty?\" Guests include Dr. Michael Naughton of The
Innocence Network UK, Mail on Sunday columnist Peter Hitchens, Vi and Ray Donovan
from the Chris Donovan Trust... |
|

|
16. RJC Restorative Justice Practitioner Register
This five minute film explains why quality in restorative practice matters and
provides an introduction to the RJC Practitioner Register. |
|

|
17. Face to Face - Prison Radio Association programme on restorative justice
Three victims of violent crime meet three prisoners who have committed violent acts
inside a prison (HMP Brixton) to highlight the importance of restorative justice. |
|

|