Ahead of last week’s Family Mediation Week, NACCC CEO, Elizabeth Coe, was delighted to attend the Family Mediation Council’s evening reception event in London.
Kindly hosted by Family Law in Partnership at Savoy Hill House, London, the event was held on Thursday 23 January, to help raise awareness of Family Mediation Week, and attended by a wide range of professionals, including mediators, family solicitors and MPs.
Keynote speaker, Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice responsible for family justice, delivered an impactful speech about the value of mediation within the family justice system and confirmed that the family mediation voucher scheme would be continuing for another year, until March 2026.
In response to the announcement, Stephen Burke, Chair of the Family Mediation Council (FMC), said:
Analysis of the family mediation voucher scheme has shown it to be successful in helping people make important agreements without the need to go to court. The FMC welcomes its extension, not least as this will continue to ensure that families on low incomes can access mediation to help them resolve conflict.
The scheme provides eligible parties with up to £500 towards mediation costs, encouraging more families to resolve disputes outside of court.
Elizabeth Coe enjoyed talking to a range of guests throughout the evening, including FMC Chair, Stephen Burke and Director Beverley Sayers, who welcomed the scheme’s extension. They were all pleased to hear Lord Ponsonby reaffirm his support for family mediation as a successful and affordable solution for separating parents, helping to reduce conflict and unnecessary court proceedings.
