Brighton and Hove Independent Mediation Service

What Services do we offer?

Neighbourhood Mediation

Neighbour mediation is a way of resolving disputes between those who live in the same locality or neighbourhood. Disputes may involve issues such as noise, communication breakdown, anti-social behaviour, boundary problems and lifestyle differences, amongst other things. Mediation is not about deciding who is right or wrong, nor about what should or should not have happened in the past. Its main aim is to find some way of improving the present situation.

Time to Talk – Intergenerational Mediation
It’s Time to Talk… Every family has arguments from time to time, particularly teenagers and parents, sometimes this can lead to family breakdown.

Conflict in the family can begin over things such as the young person's choice of friends, lack of respect for coming in times or a change in the family dynamics such as a new step-parent. These issues can be very stressful for families and can lead on to more serious problems if they are not resolved early on.

Power imbalances can be a significant barrier to effective resolution of conflict with parents feeling that the young person should abide by their rules while under their roof and the young person feeling powerless to effect change without support. The involvement of an external person (in this case two mediators) can be vital to restoring positive family relations.

Time to talk helps people to talk and listen to each other, and work towards better communication and understanding.

Time 2 Talk is the name for our Intergenerational Mediation Service. Like other forms of mediation, Time 2 Talk is a staged process, voluntarily entered into, in which young people and their families are empowered to talk and resolve family difficulties. This service is non­directive, impartial, and confidential (subject to child protection requirements) and helps people to talk and listen to each other, and work towards better communication and understanding.

Step 3: An opportunity for discussion and problem-solving
If everyone is willing, the Mediators will arrange a safe, neutral place for you all to meet together at a time convenient to everyone involved to try and find a solution to the problem. If no one wants to meet face to face the mediators will arrange 'shuttle' mediation, where they go between you to reach an agreement.

Two impartial mediators facilitate the process, listening and helping to identify the issues and possible ways forward. In addition to facilitating effective communication, it can:

• Reduce isolation
• Enable young people and family members to better understand themselves and how they relate with others
• Improve communication skills
• Assist both parties to find their own solutions and move forward
• Support the rebuilding of links and social networks