What we do
Mediation is an impartial process which aims to find peaceful solutions to situations of conflict. It gives both sides a chance to talk and to listen to the views of others in a non-threatening atmosphere. Mediation usually focuses on the future, not the past. Mediation is right for you if you are experiencing a dispute and want to make a positive change to your situation.
There are different kinds of mediation:
Neighbourhood Mediation
Vale Community Mediation Service delivers neighbourhood mediation. This may be between two or three neighbours, or as a community meeting between the residence of a street or area.
Two of our mediators will arrange to meet with you at a time that suits you. This is usually in your own home, but can be in our office or a community venue if you prefer. This meeting allows you to talk through your situation, to discuss how the mediation process works, and to look at possible means of resolving the conflict. They will also meet with your neighbour for the same purpose.
We will then arrange to hold a ‘face to face' mediation session. This will be held at a neutral venue and facilitated by the same team of mediators. The aim of the joint meeting will be to come to a mediation agreement between you and your neighbour, with which you are both happy. Although it is possible to reach an agreement indirectly, we aim to hold a face to face meeting wherever possible, as we find that this is a much more successful means of reaching a resolution.
The mediation meetings give both sides the chance to discuss their problems and to try to seek a resolution. The mediators are there to ensure that views are respected and that everyone has the chance to be heard. The mediators do not take sides or decide what should be done to resolve the dispute. They help people to identify their needs, clarify issues and explore solutions. The aim is to come to a written or verbal agreement which everyone feels they can live with.
As well as disputes between neighbours, Vale Community Mediation Service also works with communities to resolve larger issues, and can facilitate community meetings to agree "community compacts", or help groups of tenants or residents to agree appropriate use of shared resources.
Workplace Mediation
Vale Community Mediation Service delivers workplace mdeiation. It is a process which seeks to find a constructive solution to disputes between employees.
It can be used as the first, informal stage of an organisation's policy for handing disagreements and conflict situations. It can also be used at the completion of a formal investigation, such as a disciplinary procedure, especially when an allegation has not been upheld and employees may need to find a way to move on, to be able to work together again in the future.
The mediation process gives both parties an opportunity to reach agreement in confidence, without invoking a formal complaint procedure.
Mediators would meet with each party individually, and then facilitate a meeting between the parties, to find a resolution.
Family Mediation
Vale Community Mediation Service does not deliver family mediation directly, but can refer you on to one of our partners;
Family mediation helps familes experiencing divorce or separation to make decisions about property, finance, and children, It enables you to agree on decisions together instead of having a decision imposed by the court.
Victim / Offender Mediation
Victim / Offender mediation is also called restorative justice. It is a means of trying to address the harm caused by crime and criminal behaviour. It seeks to try to make things better for the victim and the community, and help the offender to fit back into society. The offender may have an opportunity to try to make up for their behaviour in some way.
Homelessness Mediation
Homelessness mediation helps people who are threatened with homelessness as a result of a conflict or dispute. It may be between families, landlords and tenants, or neighbours. It helps people to come together to agree a solution which both parties are happy with.
