Carol Hope - Involving young people in conflict resolution

10/10/16 • -1 min

In this #videoCALM interview, mediator Scott Docherty chats with Carol Hope of hopemediation.co.uk. Carol has practiced and developed mediation for decades and been instrumental in bringing peer mediation and conflict resolution skills to young people & families throughout Scotland. In the interview Carol talks about the benefits to young people of involving them in the mediation process, and tackles some of the big questions this might raise for separating parents working through their issues. She explains in very simple terms what the process will look like for kids and parents within a child-inclusive mediation, including the kind of safeguards necessary to make sure it's not abused by the parents and that the kids involved will feel genuinely listened to. Flowing from this idea of helping young people through their parents' conflict, Carol goes on to explain how peer mediation can blood children early on in school with problem solving, conflict resolution skills they can then take with them throughout life, and why such a vital knowledge and approach to conflict might benefit from forming part of the mainstream system of education in Scotland. Please excuse the one swear word near the end - it is, after all, a direct quote from a child!...

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Lisa Parkinson - Mediation developments from 1978 into the future

Lisa pioneered mediation in the UK and Europe, having set up the first mediation service here in 1978 and then the Family Mediators Association. Her work in developing mediation is pretty unparalleled, and continues particularly in the area of child-inclusive mediation and as chair of the Advisory Board of the Voices in the Middle campaign.
This interview takes us through this amazing work, and touches on how mediation has changed over the years to become a service capable of adapting around the needs and backgrounds of those separating, increasing the chances of a successful long-term resolution for those taking part. She talks also about how the system of information meetings in family actions in England & Wales might be improved on were Scotland to introduce them, and delves into fascinating detail about how child-inclusive mediation and the Voices in the Middle charity might help provide a better voice for children in separation.
It was a true privilege to have Lisa talk mediation with us, and although the interview is pretty long, given how knowledgeable and inspirational she is on the subject, perhaps you'll feel as we do that if only it could've went on for longer!