Mediators offer free drop-in sessions on family disputes

Wednesday, 29 January 2025 at 09:00

Experienced mediators are running free drop-in sessions for islanders to ask how they can resolve family disputes.

Family Mediation Jersey wants people in the community struggling with divorce, separation, childcare arrangements and financial decisions to understand there is a non-confrontational way to resolve matters.

For Family Mediation Week, the charity is holding free drop-in sessions with its expert advisors, who can support islanders with their issues.

The sessions are on Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 January from 12pm until 3pm.

Wednesday's sessions are at NatWest International and Thursday's are at the Santander Work Cafe, jointly with Community Savings Jersey giving advice on financial matters.

Elaine Feltham, Manager at Family Mediation Jersey says Family Mediation Week is a vital initiative by the Family Mediation Council.

"Our aim is to raise awareness about the positive impact family mediation can have, and to provide accessible, inclusive resources for the community."

She told us who the drop-ins are aimed at:

"Anybody in a family who has a dispute, something they want to resolve. It could be around property and finance or it might be childcare, 'who has Jonny on Monday or Tuesday and so on and so forth'.

"The mediator is there, not really to give advice, but to help draw both parties to a resolution that they are both happy with.

"This could take one session, it it could take four or five, until we come to an agreeable outcome.