Mediation with Family Journeys

Lindsay Elliot, Family Mediator at Family Journeys, shares information about their services with Edinburgh Advice Network members.

Mediation with Family Journeys

Family Journeys is a small charity working across Lothian, whose main office is at 519 Gorgie Road, with other bases in Musselburgh, Duddingston and Bathgate.

We seek to support children and their families towards healthy, respectful and nurturing relationships through the provision of a variety of services.

Mediation is one of our key services, and is provided by a team of registered Family mediators who are annually assessed and accredited via Relationship Scotland. They work predominantly with separating or separated parents, though with agreement from both parents, the children/young people can be involved as part of the process. It is also, possible to involve third parties such as new partners or grandparents.

Mediation, in essence, is a chance for parents to talk and explore ways of trying to make life a little easier for them and their children. It is voluntary, confidential, and focusses on the children and the future. The mediator has a neutral and impartial role whilst the parents provide the agendas and any outcomes or agreements.

The first step is an individual intake meeting where people can give and get information to help decide the appropriateness of mediating at this time. This also involves a child protection and domestic abuse screening by the service.

When mediation is undertaken, whether in person or online, it is flexible and available for as long as both parents want it to be. Some people use a single session; others attend several over a period. It can be used to avoid costly and stressful legal action, or indeed to negotiate how to make a court order work.

The cost of mediation is currently £52.60 per person per session. Clients who qualify can have this met by Legal Aid. We also negotiate affordable individual fees where required to ensure that cost is not a barrier to accessing the service.

For any additional information, please visit our webpage at:

https://familyjourneys.scot/ and feel free to contact us:

info@familyjourneys.scot or

Tel 0131 332 3863 Mon-Fri 9,30-3.30

To learn more about family mediation more generally, and other services available in Scotland, visit Relationships Scotland's website at How Mediation Helps