Mediation
Sharing our Learning at the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) 56th Annual Conference
Rosanne Cubitt (Head of Practice for Mediation) and I were invited to present a workshop at the AFCC Conference in Toronto recently. This workshop was an opportunity to share information about the support provided by the Relationships Scotland Network, identify how key research and a learning approach informed our Parenting Apart education sessions and encourage…
Read MoreFamily Justice and Dispute Resolution: Insights from North America – Marta M Henderson
Tuesday 19 March 2019 saw the gathering of various professionals working with separated/separating families in Scotland for an outstanding presentation by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). The event was primarily attended by family law solicitors and family mediators but other stakeholders were also represented in the audience, such as representatives from Scottish…
Read MoreFamily Justice and Dispute Resolution: Insights from North America
Tuesday 19 March 2019 saw the gathering of various professionals working with separated/separating families in Scotland for an outstanding presentation by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). The event was primarily attended by family law solicitors and family mediators but other stakeholders were also represented in the audience, such as representatives from Scottish…
Read MoreFamily Justice and Dispute Resolution: Insights from North America
Family Justice and Dispute Resolution: Insights from North America Tuesday 19 March 2019 saw the gathering of various professionals working with separated/separating families in Scotland for an outstanding presentation by the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC). The event was primarily attended by family law solicitors and family mediators but other stakeholders were also…
Read MoreGiving Children and Young People a Voice when Parents Separate – How Mediation can Help
Since the 1990s a noticeable shift within Scottish culture has occurred – it is now expected that children’s opinions will be sought and considered on a wide range of issues. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children who are capable of forming a view have a right to express those…
Read MoreSupporting developments in Family Mediation – with our neighbours!
I was delighted to be invited to attend the launch of an exciting new family mediation research initiative in South County Dublin in May this year, alongside the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Vickers. The Family Mediation Project is offering means-tested family mediation to parents, grandparents and their children in their communities. The innovative process…
Read MoreFor the Sake of the Kids
Children should be supported to keep in touch with both parents after separation, whenever it is safe and possible for them to do so, says Stuart Valentine, Chief Executive of Relationships Scotland (This article originally appeared in the Scotsman) Bringing up children is one of the toughest challenges anyone can face. Even with the well-intentioned…
Read MoreHearing from children when their parents separate or divorce
Should we be listening to children and young people directly, or hearing their views via their parents? This is a question that exercises the minds of those who work in the family law field and is receiving heightened attention from policy makers in Scotland at the moment. Does it put pressure on children and young…
Read MoreMediation or Litigation? A Brief Overview of the Benefits of Mediation
Mediation is not being utilised to its fullest potential in Scotland at present. With the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee recommending a “wholesale review” of Scots family law this year, I would suggest that this opportunity is used to encourage a greater use of mediation and to raise awareness of the benefits of choosing to settle…
Read MoreLearning from MIAMs in England and making it work in Scotland
Rosanne Cubitt, Mediator and Head of Professional Practice (Mediation) Relationships Scotland is calling for more families to be made aware of mediation as an alternate route to court action and, off the back of our manifesto, we are asking for a change to the current law to make this happen We are encouraged by the…
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