Celebrating Mediation: WMS Showcase Highlights Work in Schools and Communities
Celebrating Mediation: WMS Showcase Highlights Work in Schools and Communities
An evening that brought the transformative power of mediation to life at the WMS showcase ‘Pathways to Peace’. The event highlighted how mediation can change lives for the better within schools and the wider community.
On 25th September, WMS, formerly Wandsworth Mediation Service, hosted an evening at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, to provide a showcase of mediation and their work in schools.
Founder, Stephen Ruttle KC and Co-Chair Sharon Crooks co-mediated an improvised mediation using actors who role-played an inter- generational dispute. It was an excellent means to present the techniques employed in mediation, which as a confidential process is largely unseen.
Stephen Ruttle KC
Sharon Crooks, WMS Co-Chair
The mock mediation was also a wonderful method to show how the needs of the individuals involved in the conflict could be uncovered, which coupled with gentle encouragement by the mediators for careful listening, could lead to positions being softened and the chance to explore new ways forward.
The moving and ultimately uplifting tale of the struggles of one family concluded with reflections on the magic of mediation. ‘Words can be bullets or building blocks’ said Stephen Ruttle KC, who also noted that ‘Once the needs in the room have been named, we are often not far from resolution’.
Mock Mediation
The evening also provided an opportunity to learn more about the work of WMS in schools, from peer mediation programmes delivered to year 5s and the REFLECT programme delivered in senior schools. WMS were keen to thank the organisations who had helped to fund these programmes and we had the benefit of hearing from funders Linklaters and the Wimbledon Foundation about their reasons to support the valuable work that WMS do with and for the next generation.
Victoria Harris, Deputy Chief Executive of the Civil Mediation Council, attended on behalf of the CMC, reflecting our support for initiatives that bring both community and peer mediation into communities and schools.
Steven Ruttle KC
Victoria Harris, CMC Deputy CEO, with Jenny Reid, WMS Service Manager
The event concluded with awards to include an award for the Founder of WMS, Stephen Ruttle KC who remains closely involved but who stepped down as Chair last Year. Co-chair Hilary Brodsky praised Stephen’s ‘courage and vision’ and shared a story of the time she co mediated with Stephen as a novice mediator many years ago.
This lively and uplifting event achieved so much in a short time. Using the arts to de mystify mediation, showcasing the value of working with the next generation, demonstrating how organisations can sponsor this work and ultimately telling the story of a how a group of mediators can come together to help others.
