What is mediation and how does it work?

Mediation is the process whereby an independent third party, that is, the mediator, acts as a facilitator between two or more parties who are involved in a dispute. Mediation is confidential, impartial and voluntary.

People involved in a dispute may have to continue to live together, live near to each other, work together or just to see each other in their day-to-day lives. It is important that they can face each other without the risk of further difficulty.

Often the problem seems worse than it actually is. It may be possible to solve it if the people involved are able to talk about it with mediator assistance.

The role of the mediator is to create a safe, neutral environment where disputants can discuss relevant issues and know that what they say will be listened to and that they will be assisted in trying to find a mutual, positive and constructive way forward for the future.

The mediators neither judge nor blame the disputants and any agreement reached, either written or verbal, comes from the disputants themselves.