At family Law Partners, we are proud to champion Family Mediation Week 2025. This annual initiative, spearheaded by the Family Mediation Council, provides an important opportunity to highlight the many benefits of family mediation.
This year’s Family Mediation Week theme focuses on “Building Bridges,” which underscores the importance of creating connections and fostering understanding. Our mediators embody this ethos in their approach to family mediation, supporting families to help them find common ground and chart a positive path forward. By supporting Family Mediation Week, we aim to encourage more families to explore mediation as a way to navigate their challenges in a low-conflict, more cost-effective way than the traditional court route.
Our commitment to Family Mediation
We are fully committed to Non-Court Dispute Resolution (NCDR) and have one of the largest teams of NCDR-trained lawyers in the country. With 14 Mediators, including 2 Hybrid Mediators, 3 child Inclusive Mediators, 12 Collaborative Lawyers and an Arbitrator.
Our team’s specialist NCDR skills allow us to offer clients a nuanced and holistic approach which helps them navigate all matters without escalating tensions, remaining child centred, and whilst promoting future focused solutions. Mediation is at the heart of this. In the past year, Group Director Kate Elliott and Sarah-Jane Riddell have both become Child Inclusive Mediators and Alice Scambler achieved Accredited Mediator status. In 2025 Gemma Hope will commence her Hybrid Mediation training in 2025, and Craig Yeung-Williams will also train as a Mediator.
What sets us apart is the size and depth of our mediation team. Unlike many firms, we have invested in building a diverse group of mediators who bring a range of skills, perspectives, and expertise. This allows us to match each family with the right mediator for their unique circumstances. Whether the focus is on intricate financial matters or sensitive child arrangements, our team has the skills and knowledge to ensure families receive tailored support.
Expansion of our Child Inclusive Mediation service
At the core of our mediation practice is a focus to prioritise the wellbeing of children. We are proud to specialise in Child Inclusive Mediation, a process that gives children a voice in decisions that directly affect them. This approach ensures that their perspectives are heard and considered, fostering outcomes that are truly in their best interests.
This year, we have seen our Child Inclusive Mediation team expand to three experts. Kate Elliott, Sarah-Jane Riddell and Hazel Manktelow are specially trained mediators who create a safe, supportive space for children to share their thoughts and feelings.
Kate Elliott, Group Director, Mediator and Head of our Horsham team, said:
“ At Family Law Partners, we recognise the importance of including children’s perspectives in mediation – and indeed across our whole practice – in decisions that impact them. Our Child Inclusive Mediation approach ensures that their voices are heard, leading to better outcomes for the whole family. This process requires mediators to have specialised training and skills to engage with children sensitively and effectively, and we are proud to have three accredited Child Inclusive Mediators in our expert team”.
Embracing Hybrid Mediation
One of the additional areas of our family mediation approach is our specialism in Hybrid Mediation. This innovative model combines the benefits of traditional mediation with the flexibility to incorporate legal advice and other professional input during the process. By allowing parties to have their legal advisors present in real-time or consult with them during breaks, Hybrid Mediation ensures that individuals feel supported and empowered throughout the discussions. This approach is particularly suitable for complex cases where legal issues and emotional factors are heightened.
During Family Mediation Week 2025, we are keen to spotlight how Hybrid Mediation bridges the gap between traditional legal processes such as court proceedings and collaborative problem-solving, offering an approach that allows families to move forward constructively.
Why Family Mediation Week matters
Family Mediation Week is an important moment to raise awareness about the benefits of Mediation and to challenge misconceptions. Many people still associate separation or divorce with adversarial court battles, but mediation offers a constructive alternative. It is often faster, more cost-effective, and less stressful than litigation, enabling families to resolve disputes while preserving relationships.
The Family Mediation Council is running a series of free webinars during Family Mediation Week 2025 to help everyone learn more about family mediation. Aimed at members of the public, as well as professionals who work with families every day and see the impact separation can have, this programme includes a number of sessions featuring our team of experts:
How we can help
If you would like to learn more about our mediation services, including Hybrid Mediation and Child Inclusive Mediation, please get in touch.
