Family Mediation: Untapped potential as a dispute resolution method in Scotland?
This is special guest blog post from Lauren Ferguson, 4th Year LLB Law (Honours) Student at Glasgow Caledonian University. Lauren’s post examines international perspectives in family mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Lauren’s views do not necessarily reflect those of Relationships Scotland. Mediation has become a widely recognised method of alternative dispute resolution. Putting an…
Read MoreEaster eggs, grandparents and the wee black house
Guest post from Maureen Smyth, Writer/Editor with Shelter UK and Social Media Volunteer with Relationships Scotland. I gave up buying Easter eggs years ago. Yes, I miss the satisfying sound of the thin chocolate shell breaking, and there is something extra tasty about chocolate in an egg shape. But it’s a very inefficient chocolate delivery…
Read MoreOur child contact centre projects secure £1.5m Lottery funding
Projects supporting Scottish families through the toughest of times, including conflict and relationship breakdown, are to expand their services thanks to over £1.5 million from the Big Lottery Fund. Today’s total of £1,574,143 goes to five organisations supporting child contact centres in different parts of the country. • Relationships Scotland Orkney • Relationships Scotland Borders…
Read More5 questions with our longest serving mediator
Robin Waterston is Relationships Scotland’s longest serving mediator – working with families in Tayside and Fife for 25 years. He’s kindly taken time out of his day to speak to us about some of the challenges and joys of being a family mediator. Robin was brought up in St. Andrews. He gained a PhD in…
Read MoreWhy I’ll buy my own mother’s day gift this year
Guest blog post from Claire McLauchlin-Whitehead on Mother’s Day gift buying. As I scan through page after page of various jewellers websites I get as giddy as a magpie as all the shiny baubles catch my eye. I know I have to place my order soon to make sure I have it for mothering Sunday but I…
Read More‘Conscious Uncoupling’ – A better way to separate?
Guest blog post from Anne Chilton, Joint Head of Professional Practice at Relationships Scotland, on Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin’s ‘conscious uncoupling’. Conscious uncoupling might sound catchy and a bit new wave, but is it? It’s the other end of all that lovey dovey stuff we do at the start of a relationship. Only at…
Read MoreBeing a mum
As part of our series of guest blog posts for Mother’s Day 2014, Janis McCulloch talks about the best bits of being a new mum. Last Mother’s Day I had a very pregnant belly and was full of wonder (and fear) as to what it would be like to be a mother. A year on,…
Read MoreThe best thing about being a mum is…
We asked mums on Twitter and Facebook what the best thing about being a mum is. Here’s what 35 year old mum and teacher Sarah from Fife had to say… Wow. This is actually a hard question to answer. There are so many great things about being a mum. But there are so many difficult…
Read MoreHow would mandatory mediation protect survivors of domestic abuse?
Guest post from Rosanne Cubitt, Joint Head of Professional Practice at Relationships Scotland. Mediation is, essentially, a voluntary process in which parties are helped to communicate, negotiate and make their own decisions. There is no compulsion to agree and no decision imposed. So what is ‘mandatory mediation’? The term is normally used as a short…
Read MoreChild maintenance is changing
Guest blog post from Rosanne Cubitt, Joint Head of Professional Practice at Relationships Scotland. Child Maintenance is changing – charges are being introduced in 2014 for the use of the statutory service (previously the CSA, Child Support Agency). There are routes to avoid the charges. The preferred option is to set up a private arrangement,…
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