What is mediation?

Mediation is an impartial, confidential and voluntary process which enables people in dispute situations to find fair and acceptable solutions to their difficulties with the help of an third party known as a mediator.

Mediation involves trained and experienced mediators who facilitate the process and provide an environment where both sides in a dispute can reach agreement in an honest and open manner.

Mediation works well when both parties are committed to finding a resolution of their difficulties and are willing to engage in the process to find a win/win solution. 

Mediation is not suitable if either party is looking to use it as a means of enforcement.  Mediation is also 'without prejudice', i.e. it is not intended to be used as evidence within a court of law, and thus it is not suitable if either party is looking for a legal ruling on a dispute.

What issues can Community Mediation help with?

Mediation can be used to help resolve almost any form of dispute situation.  The only necessity for a mediation to reach successful conclusion is that both, or all, parties involved in the dispute must want to find a resolution.

CCM specialises in helping residents of the London Borough of Croydon to find resolution to disputes arising with their neighbours.  Therefore if you and your neighbour are in disagreement over:

• Noise
• Children
• Rubbish
• Pets
• Boundaries, fences and shared areas
• Damage to Property
• Harassment
• Clash of lifestyle/culture

then we can help if you, and your neighbour, are willing to move forward from your difficulties. 

How does mediation work?

Mediation is free and open to you if you are a resident of the London Borough of Croydon who wants to come to an agreement with a neighbour or other person in your community over difficulties that you have and which are causing, or are likely to cause, conflict between you.

Mediation is a voluntary process and so both parties are encouraged to participate willingly.  Mediation will not be appropriate where one, or both, parties are unwilling to co-operate.

Mediation is not legally binding and is not directive.  The solution to your difficulties are for you, and your neighbour, to decide.  The mediators will not tell you what to do.

The mediators are there to act as facilitators to listen to everyone concerned in the dispute and to assist those people to engage in constructive discussion with a view to finding a mutually acceptable outcome.

Benefits of Mediation:

• Mediation turns a fight between two parties into a search for a solution assisted by a third, impartial, party.
• Mediation empowers the people involved in a dispute to find their own resolutions.
• Mediation does not prevent people from seeking independent legal advice.
• Mediation helps build communication and listening skills.
• Mediation is a structured process which is future focused.
• Mediation is voluntary and believes that a solution can be found if all parties want to find one.

To ensure the quality and monitor the success of our work CCM follows up all mediation cases with a request for feedback - evaluation of service provided.  This helps us to maintain a continuous quality of service and to check that mediation is being successful over time.

Who are the mediators?

Anyone who has good listening and communication skills can be a mediator. All of our mediators are volunteers who have completed a recognised training course. The Service provides training approved by (the former) Mediation UK. Training is followed by practical experience in community mediation casework.

CCM makes sure that every mediator receives sufficient training and support to enable them to mediate in a professional and expert manner.  We encourage our volunteers to progress to Competent Mediator status - a nationally recognised practical experience qualification.

Mediators do not take sides, make judgements or give opinions/direction on the people or the issues involved in the dispute.  Neither are they legal advisors.  Mediators never tell people what to do but encourage the parties involved to search for a way in which to resolve the difficulties through open discussion.  This helps to create a solution which is acceptable to all and which can improve the quality of everyone's life.