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Family mediation helpline launched by DCA

"Family breakdown is a stressful and distressing experience. Particularly for children if they see their parents fighting in court. Other means of resolving problems can achieve better results in a more constructive way.

"Family mediation offers couples better chance of finding an amicable outcome and reducing the chances of further conflict."

The Family Mediation Helpline is operated by trained staff that can put couples in touch with family mediators in their area. The Helpline is available by calling 0845 60 26 627 or visiting www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk.

Family mediation is a way of resolving disputes after separation or divorce. In mediation, couples are helped to look for their own solutions to their disputes. It provides a less hostile and intimidating environment in which to solve disputes and can help those involved to understand the issues, and find solutions that everyone agrees on.

Over 150,000 married couples divorce, and it is estimated that over 100,000 cohabitants split up, every year. Family mediation is used mainly by couples who find themselves in these situations but it is also increasingly being used to solve other types of family problems, including:
> disputes between parents and older children;
> disagreements over care for elderly or seriously ill relatives;
> disputes over grandparents' contact with grandchildren, and;
> homelessness caused by family disputes.

The Helpline has the support of all the main family mediation organisations in the country including: the UK College of Family Mediators, National Family Mediation, the Family Mediators' Association, Resolution and the Family Mediation Panel of the Law Society. The database used by the Helpline includes mediators belonging to all of these organisations.

The Family Mediation Helpline is a pilot sponsored by HMCS and has funding for one year. An evaluation of the first year will inform decisions on further funding. The Helpline went operational on a trial basis on January 3rd 2006. To the end of April this year, the Helpline had received 435 calls and made 109 referrals to family mediators across the country. The call volume is expected to rise substantially after the official launch due to wider promotion of the Helpline.

Related links to this article:
DCA
www.familymediationhelpline.co.uk