Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Thousands of families opt for mediation scheme to avoid costly legal battles, stress

A breakthrough government-backed mediation scheme has given relief to more than 13,500 families, the justice ministry has said.

Thousands of families opt for mediation scheme to avoid costly legal battles, stress

Thousands of families in the UK could now avoid the stress and expenses of lengthy courtroom battles through a breakthrough mediation scheme.

The country's government could reveal on Monday (16) that the scheme has provided over 13,500 mediation vouchers worth £500 to separating couples in order to assist them in finding mutually agreeable solutions with the backing of a trained mediator, the justice ministry said in a press release.


Recent research has shown that two-thirds of cases have reached full or partial agreements away from the court, giving relief to parents and their children from anxiety and cost of acrimonious disputes in the courtroom and at the same time, lessening pressure on the family justice system and reducing the backlogs.

Supported by £8.7 million in government funding, the scheme helps families to resolve disputes away from the court, such as contact arrangements for children following a divorce or separation.

Diverting lower-level disputes away from the courtroom also helps ensure the family courts can better prioritise serious cases with safeguarding concerns, such as those which involve domestic abuse.

A family mediation is a process in which an independent and professionally trained mediator helps parties work out arrangements for children and finances where there is a dispute.

The scheme's success has been unveiled as part of Family Mediation Week, 16-20 January, a national awareness raising campaign led by the Family Mediation Council, highlighting the benefits mediation can bring to separating families.

New proposals seek to restrict the rights for foreigners subject to deportation orders, as criminals “too often exploit human rights laws” of Britain Britain's deputy prime minister Dominic Raab. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)

Deputy prime minister, Lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice Dominic Raab said, “Our £8.7m investment into this landmark scheme has already helped spare thousands of families the expense and turmoil of unnecessary lengthy courtroom battles.

“It has also allowed the family courts to better focus on cases with serious safeguarding concerns, including domestic abuse, to keep children safer.”

John Taylor, chair of the Family Mediation Council, said,  “When you separate, it can be hard to talk to your ex-partner, and difficult to know how to sort out parenting, property, and money issues. A family mediator can help you both to make plans for the future that will work best for you and your children.

“We are hosting Family Mediation Week to help more people learn more about the process of mediation, and how it can help you make vital decisions about your family’s future.”

In 2021, the government sought views on the best ways to settle family disputes away from the courts and will set out plans on how more families can benefit from mediation shortly.

Lawyers widely recognise January as a month where there is a surge in divorce applications.

Last year, there was a near 50 per cent increase in the number of people filing for divorce between December 2021 to January 2022.

Mediation is often a quicker and cheaper way of resolving disputes. It involves couples working through their differences – led by a trained and accredited mediator – to reach agreements they are both prepared to accept, such as how to split assets or arrange child contact times, rather than have a judge decide for them.

The specialist mediator helps participants to reach solutions tailored to their circumstances with many coming to agreements within two sessions.

Without the vouchers, mediation sessions would normally be charged for unless one of the parties has access to legal aid.

More For You

ve-day-getty

VE Day 80 street parties, picnics and community get togethers are being encouraged to take place across the country as part of the Great British Food Festival. (Photo: Getty Images)

Public invited to attend VE Day 80 procession and flypast

THE 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day will be marked with a military procession in London on May 5.

The event will include over 1,300 members of the Armed Forces, youth groups, and uniformed services marching from Parliament Square to Buckingham Palace.

Keep ReadingShow less
Knife crimes

Knife-enabled crimes include cases where a blade or sharp instrument was used to injure or threaten, including where the weapon was not actually seen.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Knife crime in London accounts for a third of national total: ONS

KNIFE-RELATED crime in London made up almost a third of all such offences recorded in England and Wales in 2024, with the Metropolitan Police logging 16,789 incidents, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Thursday.

This amounts to one offence every 30 minutes in the capital and represents 31 per cent of the 54,587 knife-enabled crimes reported across England and Wales last year. The total number marks a two per cent rise from 53,413 offences in 2023.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer and Modi

Starmer and Modi shake hands during a bilateral meeting in the sidelines of the G20 summit at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Brazil, on November 18, 2024.

Getty Images

Starmer calls Modi over Kashmir attack; expresses condolences

PRIME MINISER Keir Starmer spoke to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning following the deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam region that killed 26 people on Tuesday.

According to a readout from 10 Downing Street, Starmer said he was horrified by the devastating terrorist attack and expressed deep condolences on behalf of the British people to those affected, their loved ones, and the people of India. The two leaders agreed to stay in touch.

Keep ReadingShow less
 Post Office Horizon

A Post Office van parked outside the venue for the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on January 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Post Office spent £600m to keep Horizon despite plans to replace it: Report

THE POST OFFICE has spent more than £600 million of public funds to continue using the Horizon IT system, according to a news report.

Despite deciding over a decade ago to move away from the software, the original 1999 contract with Fujitsu prevented the Post Office from doing so, as it did not own the core software code, a BBC investigation shows.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

The prayer meet was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami

Pahalgam attack: Prayer meet held at Indian mission in London

Mahesh Liloriya

A PRAYER meet was held at the Gandhi Hall in the High Commission of India in London on Thursday (24) to pay respects to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

Chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ rang out at the event which was led by Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami.

Keep ReadingShow less