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A Night to Remember: The National Mediation Awards 2024

A Night to Remember: The National Mediation Awards 2024

Braving wind and rain, Audrey Dorival attended the National Mediation Awards 2024 at the historic House of Commons. From celebrating outstanding achievements to connecting with inspiring colleagues, Audrey reflects on a memorable evening that showcased the power and potential of mediation.

BY AUDREY DORIVAL

On the evening of 12 December, battling the weather to reach the Houses of Parliament felt like a test of my mediation skills. The wind and rain were in full-on dispute with my coat and umbrella, and I was in the middle. But, as any mediator knows, perseverance often leads to resolution. I pressed on- and it was worth it.

“What truly set this extraordinary evening apart was the palpable energy, excitement, and enthusiasm of the mediation community present.”

The National Mediation Awards 2024, a black-tie event held in the historic House of Commons, was a dazzling showcase of mediation excellence. It celebrated some of the ‘best of the best’ in this rapidly growing field.

I couldn’t help but smile at the irony of celebrating “the art of agreeing or disagreeing well” in a venue famous for its jeering and shouting across the dispatch box. Yet the House of Commons was a splendid backdrop for this celebration, adding excitement to the occasion.

A Year of Breakthroughs

This year has been groundbreaking for mediation. The Churchill decision¹ set a historic precedent for court-ordered mediation. Then came the changes to the Civil Procedure Rules², empowering courts to pause civil legal proceedings to order or encourage parties to engage in mediation/alternative dispute resolution.  These landmark changes are already showing early signs of transforming the landscape.

The Awards, a collaboration between the Civil Mediation Council and the College of Mediators, in association with the Family Mediation Council, amplified these momentous strides. Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho, Chair of the Civil Mediation Council, spoke passionately to the audience about embedding mediation into the Civil Justice system in a “significant and impactful” way. Kelly also highlighted the transformational power of mediation in fields such as workplace disputes, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), community conflicts, peer mediation, and academic research.

An Inspiring Evening

Wonderfully hosted by Joanna Gosling, the evening began with welcome drinks and a standing supper. The room buzzed with conversation as people from across the UK with a shared passion for mediation, mingled and connected. We were then escorted into the House of Commons Member’s Dining Room for the award ceremony.

The ceremony recognised an impressive array of mediation achievements with 18 Awards in the following categories: Civil/Commercial and workplace; Family; Community and Special Educations Needs and Disability (SEND); Impact; Progress, Training and Mediation Provider. I sensed ongoing efforts are being made to broaden the reach and diversity of the awards and the organisers made it clear that they welcome suggestions for developing the event.

What truly set this extraordinary evening apart was the palpable energy, excitement, and enthusiasm of the mediation community present. You could hear a pin drop as each award was announced, followed by rapturous applause as winners took to the stage to collect their award.

“Beyond the celebrations and back-patting, the evening carried a serious message for the mediation community: there is still much to do. The rallying call to raise public awareness of mediation resonated deeply.”

A personal highlight for me was meeting the dedicated teachers from Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School. They had travelled from the West Midlands to Westminster to represent their school’s Peer Mediation Scheme. When Ocker Hill was announced as the winner, the teachers’ joy lit up the room. Their tears of pride were deeply moving, and I could only imagine the children’s delight upon hearing the news the next morning. This magical moment underscored the power of mediation to empower even the youngest among us.

Another standout moment was the thunderous applause for Tony Allen’s Significant Achievement Award. Described as “a giant among mediators,” Tony’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping mediation in the UK and internationally.

Looking Ahead

Beyond the celebrations and back-patting, the evening carried a serious message for the mediation community: there is still much to do. The rallying call to raise public awareness of mediation resonated deeply. The reality is sobering: countless people still have no idea what mediation truly is. One speaker suggested talking with the Ministry of Justice to fund a public communication initiative explaining mediation’s different types and benefits. Greater understanding is crucial if mediation is to become a household word.

A quote shared about an award winner stuck with me and summed up the essence of mediation: “This mediator enabled me to feel that I had been listened to when no one at my employer would.” It’s this ability to create a space for people to feel heard that defines our work as mediators and its transformative power.

Until Next Time

The National Mediation Awards 2024 was a night to remember, celebrating not just individual excellence but the collective potential of mediation. Stronger together.  Huge thanks to the organisers and sponsors for a wonderful evening. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!

Here’s to building on this momentum, spreading the word about the power of mediation, and looking forward to the next National Mediation Awards in two years’ time.

Audrey Dorival helps families, local authorities and health professionals develop listening relationships with one another. She is a CEDR and SEND accredited mediator. Audrey trained as a solicitor with City firm Eversheds and worked as a commercial litigator for several years before embarking on a new career.

For two decades, Audrey managed the award-winning KIDS SEND Mediation Service. In addition to her mediation expertise, Audrey is a seasoned freelance trainer and facilitator working regularly with the National Children’s Bureau and the Medical Mediation Foundation. Audrey sits on Mediation Panels with KIDS SEND Mediation Service and the Medical Mediation Foundation. She is a member of the CMC and College of Mediators SEND Assessor’s Panel, monitoring and reviewing mediation standards nationally.

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