14 Jun Government invest a further £5.4 million to the family mediation voucher scheme
Lauren Sadler from Sadler Cross Family Law, a firm which supports families across Essex, welcomes the further £5.4m investment that the government is investing into the family mediation voucher scheme. Under the scheme, the Ministry of Justice will provide contributions of up to £500 per family, to resolve issues relating to children and finances following parental separation.
Family mediation is a proven cost-effective way to resolve differences following separation and encourages families to work together to resolve disputes away from court. The scheme is run by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) who have conducted research into the success of the scheme to date. Of the first 2800 couples who used the scheme, sixty five percent reached either a whole or partial agreement away from court. Fifty percent of survey responders also stated that without the funding incentive, they would not have tried mediation.
Since April 2021 the vouchers have supported over 8,400 families. The increased investment in the scheme announced by the Ministry of Justice for 2022/2023 will allow around 10,200 more families to be helped to access regulated family mediation.
Family Mediation Council Accredited Mediator Lauren Sadler of Sadler Cross Family who offers mediation service to families in Essex is signed up to offer vouchers under the scheme.
Lauren says, “It is far better for children and for parents to work together to try to agree the way forward following separation rather than go to court, but this can be hard for people to do without help. Family mediation provides parents a safe and supported structure to sort out the best arrangements for the children. I am also a family solicitor and I understand the stress and trauma created by a courtroom battle. Mediation helps to remove the bitterness of parental disputes from the amplifying effect of a courtroom setting. The government support for family mediation is very welcome.”
