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Mediation and


  Community Support

Enabling people to find workable solutions in difficult situations

Neighbour Disputes and Community Conflicts

Neighbours and groups of people living together in communities such as streets and blocks of flats may experience problems or disputes that could easily be helped through the use of mediation. Conflicts can be caused by misunderstandings, people having different lifestyles or expectations of each other, and many people don't even realise that what they are doing is affecting others.

When people find it difficult to communicate with each other over issues, mediation can help. It is less stressful, quicker and less costly than legal action and can improve relationships so that everyone can live together more comfortably.



Advantages of using mediation

It allows you to speak and listen to each other

The issues are kept private

It is quicker than going to court

It is a non-adversarial method aiming for both parties to get the best outcome possible

It can be used for more than one issue

It can be used for disputes involving more than two sides

You decide on the outcome together

It is usually free

It can help maintain ongoing relationships

It can address problems of communication breakdown

It can provide a way forward where there are no legal remedies

A wide range of outcomes are possible

 

What can be mediated

  • Issues which the people involved have the ability to settle for example the use of communal areas, ball games, parking or boundary maintenance
  • Specific complaints about behaviour, money or objects such as noise, care of gardens, damage of property or the cost of repairs
  • Issues which both parties are prepared to work on such as their relationship, future communication or the behaviour of children.

 

What cannot be mediated

  • Cases involving physical violence or serious threats of violence
  • Criminal activity
  • Anything that needs a ruling on a point of law
  • Anything that needs the final outcome to be enforced.