Community Mediation
Sometimes we can come into conflict with our neighbours or other community members for a number of reasons This can be difference in lifestyles, culture and sometimes it can be disagreements about things like noise (what is and isn’t acceptable), boundaries like hedges, fences or trees, issues over parking, issues over dog fouling, rubbish or other things we find antisocial.
We can come to visit you and hear about the problem, talk about your needs and what needs to happen to make thing better and move forward. We then visit your neighbour and hear about the problem, and talk about their needs and what needs to happen from their perspective. Each of you is offered one or two sessions to prepare. If everyone is willing, and feels ready, we arrange for a carefully facilitated safe meeting with you and your neighbour, where you can discuss what has been happening and what you need to happen next.
This is an opportunity for those in conflict to contribute to determining what needs to happen to makes things better.
Mediation Meetings
These meetings we will only bring you together if there is a possibility of making things better. We have ground rules in place to make sure everyone is safe, such as treating one another respectfully, keeping the meeting confidential and making sure everyone has a chance to speak without being interrupted. The meeting will result in an outcome agreement which lists all the things agreed to resolve the issues you brought to the table. The agreement is not legally binding. It is a statement of intent between parties.
Benefits of Community Mediation
The benefits of mediation:
- A more peaceful life
- A chance to have a say
- A chance to let the other person know how you feel
- Feeling empowered
- Taking part in events that affect your life
- Contribute to finding a solution