MEDIATION IN west sussex and LEGAL AID

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Mediation is a highly effective, confidential, and voluntary process available across West Sussex (including areas like Chichester, Worthing, Horsham, and Crawley) to resolve conflicts without the expense and stress of court or lengthy internal disciplinary procedures.

West Sussex benefits from local, specialised services offering both Family and Workplace mediation.

Family mediation is designed to help separated or divorced couples make joint decisions about their children, finances, and property. It’s a constructive way to manage the transition from partnership to separated co-parents.

• The MIAM Requirement: In almost all cases, before you can apply to the Family Court for a Child Arrangements Order or Financial Order, you must first attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) with an accredited mediator. This meeting is an individual, confidential session to discuss your case and assess the suitability of mediation.
• Issues Resolved: Mediators can help you find agreements on:
  
  • Child Arrangements: Where children will live and how much time they spend with each parent (contact).
  • Financial Settlement: How to divide the family home, savings, pensions, and debts.
• Funding Options:
  
  • Legal Aid: If you have a low income or receive certain benefits, you may be eligible for Legal Aid, which would cover all your mediation costs (MIAM and all joint sessions). If one party qualifies, the other party receives free funding for their MIAM and the first joint session.
  • Government Voucher Scheme: You may be eligible for a £500 government voucher towards the cost of mediation if your case involves disputes about child arrangements. Your mediator will check and apply for this for you.
  • Private Fees: Many services offer fixed fees for MIAMs and hourly rates for joint sessions, which is significantly cheaper than involving solicitors and the court system.
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Workplace mediation is a targeted intervention to resolve disputes, communication breakdowns, and conflict between colleagues, employees, and managers. It's often a low-cost, highly effective solution for employers wanting to improve team performance and retain staff.

• Conflict Resolution: Mediators help resolve issues such as relationship breakdowns, disagreements over working practices, or informal complaints of bullying/harassment.
• Focus on the Future: Unlike disciplinary or grievance procedures, mediation is not about apportioning blame. It focuses on helping the parties agree on how they will communicate and work together effectively in the future.
• Confidentiality: The process is entirely confidential, which encourages open discussion and protects the reputation of the individuals and the organisation.
• Process: A mediator typically holds individual meetings with each party first, followed by a joint meeting to explore solutions and reach a workable agreement, often completed in one working day.

• Local Providers: Amity Mediation Services operate across West Sussex, such as Chichester, Crawley, and Worthing, offering both in-person and online mediation services.

Area covered

Arundel Billingshurst Bognor Regis Burgess Hill Crawley Down East Grinstead Hassocks Hickstead Horsham  Littlehampton Midhurst Shoreham Beach Shoreham-by-Sea    

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