Andrew Jackson supports Family Mediation Week
Our Family Solutions team, Andrew Jackson's dedicated mediation service, is once again supporting the campaign to promote Family Mediation Week, from 20th-24th January 2020.
This year, Family Mediation Week coincides with the release of a survey of family mediators, conducted by the Family Mediation Council in Autumn 2019, which shows that family mediation is a highly successful way of helping separating couples resolve disputes, with mediation successful in over 70% of cases. These success rates are consistent with figures from previous studies, including government studies.
The survey also shows that where both of the people separating go and see a family mediator for an initial individual assessment meeting, three quarters choose to go on to mediate.
John Taylor, chair of the Family Mediation Council said: - "It is not surprising that so many people who attend a first meeting with a mediator chose to go on to mediate. The meeting (sometimes called a Mediation Information and Assessment meeting, or MIAM) provides people with an opportunity to find out what family mediation is, how it might work for them and the practicalities and costs involved, as well as the alternatives if they choose not to mediate. Once people realise that family mediation is less expensive than being represented in court proceedings, as well as being less stressful and quicker than the court process, most realise it is a conversation worth having."
Family mediation has helped many divorcing couples and parents build a constructive future without a court imposing decisions on them. This latest research confirms that mediation is often the best way to resolve conflicts; we would strongly encourage separating couples to ensure that a mediator is their first port of call to help ensure that the process is as balanced as possible for all those affected.
Whilst family mediation clearly works, there are still low levels of awareness meaning families are still missing out. This is a particular concern where families are eligible for free mediation, via the legal aid scheme. Taking place from 20th-24th January 2020, Family Mediation Week aims to raise awareness of family mediation and how it can help separating families manage their issues collaboratively and productively. You can find out more about the campaign by visiting www.familymediationweek.org.uk.
To find a local family mediator, visit: https://www.familymediationcouncil.org.uk/find-local-mediator/, where you will be able to access a database of professional family mediators regulated by the Family Mediation Standards Board.