Family Mediation Week – 18-21 January

The Family Mediation Council has organised ‘Family Mediation Week’ which is taking place this week, 18-22 January 2021. The aim of the week long campaign is to raise awareness of mediation and how it can help separating families manage their issues collaboratively and productively.

Mediation encourages families to sit down together to communicate. A mediator will support them to help settle their dispute in a peaceful and cost effective manner. A mediator does not make a decision on settlement or award but instead assists the parties in negotiating an outcome that is acceptable to both parties.

Mediation can help achieve a better outcome for families as well as usually being quicker, more cost effective and less contentious then going through a court or solicitors.

Integrated Dispute Resolution’s (IDR) subsidiary company, Family Online Mediation and Arbitration Services (FOMAS) was set up in 2019 and makes alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in family law available to everyone, regardless of the issues surrounding their dispute and their personal circumstances. This is achieved by having a nationwide network of expert lawyers, mediators, private ‘judges’ and arbitrators, all with a wide range of specialist skills and experience.

William Hogg of Laurus Law and members of IDR and FOMAS commented: “I very much look forward to Family Mediation Week. In my experience as a lawyer, Mediation has proven to be perhaps the most powerful tool for encouraging parties to find long-term solutions in a conciliatory and co-operative way. This should be seen as a great opportunity for solicitors seeking to further promote the welfare of their clients.”

There will be numerous events over the course of the week including; a mock mediation and a coffee morning, for more information on the events taking place, click here.

For further information on FOMAS and our Family Mediation service, click here.

For more information on Family Mediation Week, click here.