History
Find out more about our history below. Elements highlighted in purple are key to our history; other boxes feature information about the development of mediation services in Scotland.
1990s
In the 1990s in Scotland there was a growing awareness within local authorities and government of the cost of low-level disputes within communities. Costs not only for the organisations involved, such as police, anti-social behaviour staff and housing officers, but the cost to relationships strained if not broken between neighbours, and the stresses a dispute places on those involved.
1995
In 1995 the first community mediation service began, in Edinburgh. Several community groups across Edinburgh – including Wester Hailes community group - were in the early 1990s looking at how neighbour conflicts could be resolved, and approached Sacro to help out. The next few years saw a number of community mediation services set up.
1999
By 1998 the Scottish Executive was looking to support the development of effective services to handle low-level neighbour disputes at local authorities throughout Scotland. Sacro was approached and in 1999 the Community Mediation Consultancy + Training Service (now SCMC) is set up. Its aims are to support the development of mediation services at local authority level, together with providing appropriate training for mediators.
Led by Ian McDonough, between 1999 and 2001, 22 local authorities are provided with a consultancy service, examining options for mediation service provision and making recommendations.
2001
The Service delivers its first five-day basic mediation skills training course.
2002
Scottish Mediation Network receive Scottish Government funding, enabling it to be set up on a formal basis. It appoints its first Director, Ewan Malcolm, who set about organising an office.
2003
Scottish Mediation Network hold their first conference, in Stirling, providing an opportunity for mediators across all sectors to come together, share best practice and learn.
2004
By 2004 a two-day course, aimed at those requiring an understanding of mediation and some of the skills involved, is launched by the Service.
2005
Glasgow and Midlothian mediation services established, bringing the total to 24 community mediation services across Scotland.
2005
The Service is delivering up to four mediation skills training courses per year at venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh. These courses are open to members of the public to book onto and are in addition to commissioned mediation courses being delivered across Scotland.
‘Verbal Acupuncture’ - a new three-day course is launched, aimed at developing experienced mediators.
2006
Amber – an Edinburgh-based service providing support and mediation between young people and families begins. The model for this service is developed as a collaboration between Cyrenians and Sacro. The model involved a support worker that would provide medium-long term support of the young person, and separately a mediator. This model, broadly speaking, continues to this day.
Mediation UK goes into liquidation. Mediation UK was a nationwide organisation that provided -amongst other services - CPD courses, and an accreditation scheme for mediators and services.
2007
The Service collaborates with members of the Scottish Community Mediation Network (SCMN) to set up accreditation schemes for mediators, services and training bodies.
2011
The Service starts delivering a six-day young person/families mediation training course, in collaboration with Amber Service (Cyrenians).
2012
The Service gains SCQF credit-rating through Napier University for its Mediation Skills course.
2012
SCMN provides a response to the High Hedges bill, which at the time caused much discussion within mediation circles.
2014
The Service is rebranded as the Scottish Community Mediation Centre (SCMC) and a new website is launched.
2014
Funded by Scottish Government, the Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR) is launched at their first national conference in Glasgow, with the aim to help young people and families handle conflict better.
2016
SCMC gains SCQF credit-rating of its Restorative Skills training, assessed by Napier University.
Scottish Government funding of Scottish Community Mediation Centre ceases. Sacro takes on commitment to provide ongoing support to the Scottish Community Mediation Network. Training continues within the Centre, now self-funding.
2017
The Centre launches its new restorative skills training course.
2020
With the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, mediation services across Scotland are either suspended or diverted online. SCMC delivers its first mediation training online (Zoom) in July, followed by courses in September and November. The feedback is very positive.
2021
Mediation services now being provided both online and face-to-face in many areas. The year sees the development of new mediation services in local authority areas which had seen their service previously closed.
2022
SCMC continues to deliver training online and, where commissioned and requested, in person.
2023
SCMC gain accreditation by Scottish Mediation for its Mediation Skills training.
SCMC begins delivering training using a hybrid model, with a mixture of online and in-person delivery.
2024
SCMC marks its 25th anniversary, with a new website. In its 25 years, it has delivered training across Scotland, from the far south – Dumfries and Galloway - to the far north - Shetland Isles. It has trained staff from all 32 local authorities. Training people from nearly 150 organisations, helping people resolve conflict between neighbours and communities, workplace colleagues, pupils, teachers and parents, and family members.
