Family Matters’ managing director, Juliette Dalrymple, is delighted to announce an innovative new project with Doncaster Children’s Services in 2023 to raise awareness of mediation among a wide range of professionals working with children and families in the Doncaster area.
Lorraine McNay, a mediator working at Family Matters, talked to Juliette about the new project the first of its kind in the country.
Why is the project important?
It’s a very exciting development for Family Matters, particularly as it’s the first time that a mediation practice has worked with children’s services to raise awareness of mediation with the professional community. This includes teachers, family support workers, children’s centre workers and social workers.
What does it involve?
All those involved have taken part in lunchtime presentations by Family Matters to raise their awareness and understanding of mediation. This is part of Doncaster Children’s Trust’s commitment to recognising and reducing parental conflict through a series of interventions at the earliest opportunity. Family Matters delivers the presentations, which explain what mediation is and how it works, as well as the myths surrounding it. We talk about the funding available and also explain that successful mediation does not mean that the people have to be in the same room or even the same geographical location.
What does it mean for the future?
It means that we are moving towards the idea that professionals have knowledge and understanding of the resources that are available to families who are separating or in conflict. It shows that Doncaster Children’s Trust supports mediation and has confidence in Family Matters. It brings professionals together to meet with mediators – putting a face to a name – and helps them to understand that there is somewhere that they can confidently refer families. It is a more joined-up approach to working with families who are experiencing difficulties following separation.
How many sessions have taken place?
So far, we have carried out two lunchtime sessions that have been supported by Doncaster Children’s Trust and have been very well attended. There are four more sessions scheduled, once a month. The sessions are currently only open to people who work in the Doncaster area.
What are your hopes for the future of mediation in Doncaster?
I hope that more professionals – and subsequently families – in the Doncaster area become more aware of what mediation is all about and how it can help families and that Family Matters will be able to help these families to benefit from its mediation services.
