Community Mediation Working Group – The Impact of Conflict
Community Mediation Working Group – The Impact of Conflict
The CMC Community Mediation Working Group explored key issues, including access to mediation through healthcare, supporting communities in conflict and new resources on mental health. Sian Brand, Chair of the National Social Prescribing Network, shared insightful strategies on collaborating with primary care providers to expand mediation services.
REPORT BY VICTORIA HARRIS
The impact of conflict was the theme for the CMC Community Mediation Working Group when it met last week. A full agenda looked at three topics which covered accessibility to mediation via healthcare, supporting communities in conflict and also new mental health resources to support individuals in conflict and the mediators who support them.
Siân Brand, the Chair for the National Social Prescribing Network, gave a detailed presentation imparting lots of tips for community mediation organisations who want to develop links with primary care providers in their area to offer mediation services.
Explaining that its vital to be up to date with structural changes in the NHS to make those all-important local connections, Siân also gave advice on how to approach funding for this work that can do so much to support individuals who visit their GP when suffering the impact of conflict in their lives.
With the Summer riots impacting many communities, a group discussion looked at the role that community mediation can play to support community cohesion. Whilst community mediation is not an emergency service there was consensus that it can be supportive in a number of ways. The long-term benefits of having peer mediation better embedded were raised as was the role that community mediators can play to prevent conflict by delivering community training initiatives and events. The restoration of relationships post conflict and working with those at the heart of the rioting also featured in the discussion.
A key feature of the conversation was the importance of partnership working with different agencies who were already working within communities. Listening to all parties and raising awareness of services locally by attending events were some of the other valuable insights provided. My thanks to all those who have shared their experiences with me, either during or before the Working Group meeting, and who are contributing to these ongoing discussions.
On the 10th October CMC are launching new mental health resources for individuals in conflict and the mediators that support them. An overview of these resources, created with the assistance of Mental Health First Aid trainer Marie Coombes, was shared with the group and we hope that they will be of use to all in the community mediation sector and beyond.
The new resources include videos for individuals and mediators, and a list of national organisations to support individuals in need of additional and specialised support.
Our next meeting will take place on the 6th February 2015 at 12.30. If you would like to learn more about the work of the CMC Community Mediation Working Group or join the next session, please contact Victoria at projects@civilmediation.org.
