Family Futures is a family mediation service staffed by volunteers with the aim of helping families with relationship issues reach agreement without recourse to court proceedings.
The end of a relationship can be a difficult time. Emotions may run high and discussion can be difficult about arrangements for children and finances. Talking face-to-face can seem the hardest thing to do.
The Family Futures team includes an accredited family mediator who can meet with each of you separately to explain the various processes you could use to resolve issues for the future and assess whether mediation would be suitable for you both. The meeting can take place at our premises or online if you prefer.
- Other team members can help you plan a way forward to get help with the practical things that you need to deal with such as housing, debts, medical and other issues.
- We can also provide general information about the law in relation to children and finances on separation and divorce.
- We have an arrangement with a counselling service who can help you explore emotions which are arising from any conflict and help remove anxiety from face to face communication.
- When you are ready for discussions in mediation the meetings can be arranged together or in separate spaces. The mediator will listen to find out what is important to each of you and help you both to make your own choices and decisions about the best way forward. You will be helped to reach practical solutions which work for you, and if you are parents, for your children. You would probably have between one and three sessions with the mediator, sometimes more if needed.
- During mediation there will also be the opportunity to look at ways to make difficult conversations between the two of you easier in future. Each mediation meetings usually lasts one and a half hours.
We do not charge for any of this but if you are able to make a donation it will help us to continue to provide Family Futures for others.
Family Futures normally operates every Friday afternoon during term time. For more information or to arrange an initial meeting please phone 07746250817 or email [email protected]