A recent report has revealed a sharp decline in the number of separating couples trying mediation to resolve their disputes.
Relationship support charity Relate, which operates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, found that couples starting legal aid funded mediation fell by 35% between April and September 2013, compared to the same period the previous year, and that the number of solicitor referrals to mediation services fell by 72%.
Mediation offers couples an out of court option to make arrangements around separation or divorce. An impartial mediator manages the process but the couple decide what arrangements to agree on.
Relate is particularly concerned about the decline after a recent poll found that 52% of separated parents said that their separation had a negative impact on their children. Relate believes that finding ways to minimise the impact of relationship breakdown on families is crucial, and that mediation is a key part of this.
“We mustn’t forget that at the heart of this issue is the welfare of couples and children in very difficult situations,” said Chris Sherwood, Relate’s Director of Policy and External Affairs and co-author of the report.
“Government and the mediation sector must work together to raise awareness of what help is available to assist separating families – before more mediation services are forced to shut down. We are also calling on Government to invest in innovation so that new and more effective wrap-around services can be offered to all families before, during and after separation.”
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