Family Matters is delighted that the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) government has extended its voucher scheme for those using mediation to help make arrangements for their children by a further £800,000.
The scheme, initially worth £1 million, was expected to finish at the end of August 2021. It allows separating families to access mediation funding of up to £500 to help resolve issues relating to their children if they use a mediator who is an accredited member of the Family Mediation Council (FMC).
Family Matters signed up to the scheme immediately and has been one of the firms to use the scheme the most and has been able to help dozens of families with the 60 vouchers it has already applied for.
The Family Mediation Council, which manages the scheme for the Ministry of Justice, recently asked Juliette Dalrymple, managing director of Family Matters, for feedback on the original scheme. Juliette commented on the extension to the scheme saying:
“I am so pleased that the scheme has been extended and I do hope that our feedback was useful in facilitating this. It is a sign the scheme is making a real difference to separated parents and their children. Mediation is an organised process in which couples can find solutions and reach agreement about arrangements for their children. It is flexible, focussed, forward-thinking and allows parents to remain in control. They can decide the pace and direction of the discussions with the help and support of a mediator. Mediation is already a cost-effective alternative to court, but the MOJ scheme makes it more accessible to parents, particularly those who are not eligible for legal aid. It is expected that the extra £800,000 funding for parents will now allow the scheme to continue until the end of December 2021. We look forward to being able to help many more families to access the funding and successfully find ways to resolve their issues.”
You can read the government’s press release about the extension to the scheme here.
All the mediators at Family Matters are accredited by the Family Mediation Council and we have mediators who have specific expertise in child inclusive mediation. You can contact us to make an appointment for an online meeting by calling on 03300 881440 or by emailing admin@familymattersmediate.co.uk You can also complete our online contact form.
