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Helping people in conflict
One of the pleasures of training people in mediation is seeing people learn new skills in handling conflict more constructively and gain confidence in using them during the course.
Our course has no prior learning requirements and we welcome everyone from all walks of life. Previous learners have included lawyers, academics, professionals from commercial organisations, housing, community safety, environmental and leisure services, community bodies, marketing and training - the list is endless. What they have in common is a wish to handle conflicts in a better way, and to help others who are in conflict. Many have heard of mediation or know someone in the field of mediation, whilst others are completely new to this area.
Our training provides a safe space for people to work together and support each other as they learn the principles and process of mediation. The training is highly interactive with lots of opportunities for learners to discuss, explore and practise – they are often surprised how much they ‘do’ rather than listen. It’s also our job as trainers to make the course fun! Since learners come from a variety of backgrounds and jobs, they bring a wealth of experiences and knowledge which they are encouraged to share with others during the course.
Reflection and recognition
Last week saw me meet up with several mediators from around Scotland; I was there to present a workshop on the mediator accreditation scheme, which is run by the Scottish Community Mediation Network.
One of the questions that I was asked was what are the benefits of becoming accredited? I based my answer on what other mediators have told me. I talked about the feeling of being assessed, and having someone external to your organisation assess you and acknowledge that you as a mediator are working to a high standard. I also talked about how the process itself allows mediators to step back and reflect on their practise as a whole; the lessons that they have learned and the skills that they have developed.
Latest Podcast now live!
We are pleased to announce that our latest podcast is now live. This is the final episode in a series of four podcasts, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Scottish Community Mediation Centre.
Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic, this latest podcast explores how we met the challenge of changing a classroom-based course to an online one during the COVID-19 pandemic. It talks about some of the changes we made and the evolution of our training since then. You can listen to it here.
The Value of Mediation
Yesterday saw the first meeting for 2025 of the Scottish Community Mediation Network. Held online, this Network provides mediators and mediation service managers with an opportunity to discuss best practice, new initiatives and look towards future service development. It has now been running for 24 years and in its time has seen dozens of mediators and managers share their learning and challenges, their skills and hopes. For me, being a part of it, in providing the support to its members and participating at these meetings, is always an uplifting experience. Today, there are 22 community mediation services around Scotland, some larger, some small, but they all serve one purpose – to help people who are having problems with their neighbour to find a positive way forward through meeting their neighbour. That these services manage to continue to do this, in the face of year-on-year budget cuts and increasing pressures on caseloads, is a real testament to those mediators.
Mediators have a good range of skills, however one of the things that we are not so good at is promoting the work that we do, particularly as workload pressures have increased over the years. Recently, the Scottish Government published the report from the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour. Within this report, it talks about mediation as an effective form of dealing with antisocial behaviour, particularly at an early stage. One of their recommendations is that:
• Investment is made in funding to ensure communities have access to specialist, free and independent Mediation and Restorative Justice Services locally.
International Women’s Day 2025
This Saturday, 8th March, marks International Women’s Day. During my time working with the Scottish Community Mediation Centre, I have met many women who have gone on to become mediators. One of the discussions in our training courses is the importance of showing empathy with a client in distress. Demonstrating empathy, along with the personal skills that enable a mediator to break down barriers between themselves and their clients, is something I have seen many women in our training demonstrate exceptionally well.
Whenever I meet a group of mediators or work with a new intake of learners, it is clear that this type of work attracts women. Often, they form the majority in the room. Clearly, there are skills, qualities, and values that contribute to becoming a good mediator, and these can make mediation an appealing career for women. However, this does not mean that all female mediators share the same approach. I recall one close colleague who loved nothing more than a good argument. For her, debating a point helped clarify her thinking, refine her reasoning, and shape the best way to present her perspective. For this particular mediator, engaging in debate was not about conflict, but about achieving greater understanding.
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