Thousands more separating parents will avoid stressful courtroom battles, says the Government, as the Government boosts its landmark family mediation scheme with an additional £1.3 million.
- Extra funding triples investment into Government mediation scheme since launch last year
- 4,400 vouchers already used to resolve disputes such as those involving financial or contact arrangements for children
- 77 percent of cases reach whole or partial agreements away from family courts
The extra investment is expected to help more families resolve disputes away from court, such as those involving financial or contact arrangements for children and takes investment in the initiative to more than £3m since its launch in March last year.
The funding will provide 2,440 additional vouchers for mediation services – each worth £500 – with the aim of finding amicable solutions to couples’ disagreements and freeing up space in the family courts. It seeks to spare them going through often lengthy and costly courtroom battles, which can have a damaging impact on their children.
The extra funding will be confirmed by Justice Minister Lord Wolfson tomorrow in a virtual speech to accredited mediators, marking the start of Family Mediation Week. In total the Government has invested just short of £3.3m into the scheme, following the initial £1m at launch and an additional £800k in August. The extra money will allow the initiative to run until the end of March.
If a case is eligible for vouchers, the mediator will automatically claim back the contributions from government.
Well, this is good news but £500 does not go far and many mediators say not far enough. Going to court should be the very last option, particularly in relation to your children where there are no issues of safety but you can’t settle the arrangements. Trying mediation is definitely a good move and £500 towards the cost is better than nothing. It’s up to you to make it work for you and your family. It does not cover financial arrangements so only for conversations about your children.
Do you need help about the arrangements for your children? Contact me for help.