• March 29, 2024
 £800k additional funding for mediation vouchers

£800k additional funding for mediation vouchers

The government have committed a further £800,000 of additional funding for Family Mediation vouchers; providing thousands more families with the opportunity to access up to £500 toward the cost of mediation.

The aim of the scheme is to keep “easily resolvable” cases out of the already over-subscribed family courts system. The additional funding comes as over half of the initial £1m has been used, with the Family Mediation Council (FMC) reporting 130 vouchers being used per week to support families.

Early data from the FMC has shown that up to three-quarters of participants have been helped to reach full or partial agreement on their dispute.

Courts Minister, Lord Wolfson QC said:

“Hundreds of separating couples have already benefitted from this scheme – resolving their disputes without the need for an often lengthy, costly and emotionally taxing court process.”

“This additional funding will allow even more families to access these services, while helping to lessen the pressure on our family courts as we build back better from the pandemic.”

The scheme is eligible for families seeking to resolve private law or financial matters relating to children – for example, child arrangement orders or financial disputes regarding a child’s upbringing.

If a case is eligible for vouchers, the mediator will automatically claim back the contributions from the Government.

Commenting on the value of the scheme, Jane Kerr, an FMC Accredited mediator says

The mediation voucher scheme has been invaluable in providing clients with access to mediation at a time when money is tight and finances are feeling fraught. I have worked with several couples who were interested in the benefits mediation offered, however were not financially in a position to get started.

Two cases I have worked on over the last few months have concluded successfully with positive progress and outcomes for their children. They were clear examples of families who were in crisis, amid messy separations and who left mediation on a firmer footing with regards to their co-parenting relationship and having worked out practical arrangements.

Earlier this month the Government issued a “Call for evidence” to explore views on the best ways to settle family, business and other civil disputes away from the court room.

The Responses will shape future reforms to civil, family and administrative justice, with Ministers determined to help more people resolve their issues without the stress and cost of a court case. It will examine whether new technologies, as well as services such as mediation and conciliation, could provide smarter and less adversarial routes for finding resolutions.

Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, said

We want the public, families and businesses to be able to resolve disputes easily and with as little stress as possible – avoiding often lengthy and costly court battles.

That is why I am delighted to launch this important call for evidence which will help shape our plans to harness new technologies and ensure more people can get resolutions in ways that work for them.

The call for evidence will last for eight weeks and closes on 30th September. View and respond to the consultation here: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/dispute-resolution-england-wales-call-for-evidence/

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