Our expert mediators will guide you through the process of making
plans for the future of your family after marriage breakdown or
separation. Our mediators have many years experience of working
with families assisting them to make arrangements for their children,
property and finance, and come from social work, and Family Law
backgrounds.
The service may be free to you if you are eligible for Public
Funding (previously referred to as Legal Aid). If not, mediation
at SFMS is competitively priced and offers value for money compared
with following the legal route to divorce and separation. We are
a not-for-profit organisation, operating as a charity since 1984.
The organisation has been at the forefront of developments in
mediation since it was initially founded. It was one of the first
mediation services to offer All Issues Mediation, covering children,
property and finance in the country and has subsequently been
involved in championing direct consultation with children, and
the development of Family Focus, a solutions focused form of counselling
which is available under the same roof.
Call 01273 550563 for further
details or
Download a referral form for mediation >>
If you are considering mediation here are some important
things you need to know
- No one can be forced to use mediation, it is your choice
- Mediators do not take sides
- Mediators do not make the decisions for you or judge you
- Mediators help you think about the options
- Your discussions in mediation are confidential, except in
cases where there are significant child safety concerns
- Financial facts you share together in mediation are open
- Financial facts you share together in mediation may be used
in Court
Direct Consultation with Children
The opportunity will be offered for your child
or children to be seen directly by the mediator. Research
suggests that this service is beneficial for children in families
who are separating, as it allows the voice of the child to be
heard within the future planning for the family, however it is
entirely at the discretion of parents to decide if they feel it
is appropriate for their child or children to be seen.
Solutions focused counselling for inter-generational relationships,
individuals, couples, and their children, offered under one umbrella
- Family Focus
This service is suitable for couples, families, children and
individuals who are looking for a private, quiet space to talk
and make plans for the future. Family Focus provides solutions
focused counselling and is founded on the principal of respect
for all clients, whatever their circumstances, and aims to connect with
their strengths and competencies. The service is underpinned by a
belief in the possibility for positive change for all clients.
Family Focus is an integrated service which can assist couples
and individuals under stress and seeking help, or families
at risk of breaking up. The service offers support to couples
whether married or cohabiting, including children and other family
members as appropriate. For those couples for whom separation
proves inevitable, Family Focus offers a smooth transition
to mediation to make arrangements for their children, property
and finance.
SFMS is a not-for-profit charitable organisation, which has been
awarded the Legal Services Commission Quality Mark.