First Meeting of the Community Mediation Working Group

  REPORT BY VICTORIA HARRIS

Community mediation in the UK plays a vital role in supporting individual well-being and community cohesion. It can address increasing need in the areas of health, housing, and community safety as well as preventing cases from entering both the civil and criminal justice systems. To promote the benefits of community mediation and share ideas, the new CMC Community Mediation Working Group provides an inclusive platform for all community mediation organisations and individuals who work in the sector.

The Community Mediation sector has much to offer to support the wellbeing of individuals and community cohesion.

There is growing awareness that mediation within the community can address increasing needs in the sectors of health, housing and community safety.  Although community mediation operates outside of the legal process it also has much to contribute to prevent cases from entering both the civil and criminal justice systems.

Community mediation is delivered across most, but not all, of the UK by diverse organisations who are well placed to respond to the needs of their communities.  Much of the work is carried out by experienced and professional mediators who work pro bono to support their local community mediation organisation.

Over the past 20 years the number of community mediation organisations has decreased largely due to cuts in funding, so it is never more needed that the community mediation sector come together to raise the voice of this valuable work.

The CMC Community Mediation Working Group is an inclusive platform for all community mediation organisations and individuals working in this sector to promote the benefits of community mediation and to share ideas.

The first Working Group met on 7 March and it identified a number of priorities to include; research around impact, promotion, standards, national provision, work within the health sector, fundraising and training.

The next meeting will take place on 18 May between 12.30pm-2pm

Thank-you to all members representing 17 community mediation organisations, for giving your time to this initiative. If you are interested in the work of this group and would like to join we would love to hear from you! Contact Victoria Harris to learn more.