Peacebuilders Mediation

Peacebuilders Mediation provides workplace and community based mediation from fully qualified mediators. We are especially committed to serving the charitable and social enterprise sector.

Mediation Overview

Mediation is where an independent third party helps people to resolve their conflict.

Mediators are fully trained and are often brought in from outside the organisation or group. This is called 'external’ or ‘independent’ mediation.

Mediation in the UK is always a voluntary process. It ensures that people’s different perspectives are heard and understood. The aims of mediation are to make sure everyone gets heard, to enable better communication between those involved and to resolve the issues that have caused the conflict.

Mediators are committed to helping those having the conflict to identify what their interests are and to come up with a workable agreement. The agreement is decided by those in conflict, not the mediator.

Mediation is suitable for most types of conflict where those involved are willing to consider it as an option. For example:

• Differences of opinion about working practices, roles and responsibilities
• Disagreements about job description
• Grievances about decision-making processes
• Concerns over the use of power or resources
• Allegations of poor management or bullying
• Conflicts about aims and purpose of the work
• Complaints about handling of work situations
• Personality clashes or culture clashes
• Conflicts arising from changes in the organisation, such as restructuring

Where legal action has already commenced, mediation is not usually suitable. If you are unsure whether your situation is suitable for mediation, contact us for a confidential chat.

How effective is mediation?

Mediation consistently proves to be more effective and satisfactory than other forms of dispute resolution, such as arbitration or litigation. A rigorous study of the effectiveness of community mediation found that:

• An average of 80 percent of mediated cases reached an agreement between the parties
• Eight separate studies reported an 89 percent average rate of satisfaction with the mediation process amongst those who had participated. Questions asked included, “Were you satisfied with the mediation process? Would you use mediation again? Would you recommend mediation to a friend?”
• A similarly high satisfaction with the mediators was reported by the studies – ranging from 100 percent satisfaction to 88 percent satisfaction.¹

Why choose Peacebuilders?

Peacebuilders has been set up by people with extensive experience of working in both the voluntary and community sector and the public sector, where the challenges are often different to those experienced in the commercial world.

All our mediators have an Accredited mediation qualification, receive regular supervision and are committed to working according to our Peacebuilders Code of Best Practice.

In fact, Peacebuilders is being established because of a clear need for mediation in the ‘third’ sector. In July 2007, we conducted a survey of people working for a wide range of voluntary, community and faith sector groups and organisations. We found that:

• 93% said that they been involved in a conflict at work, but almost all had not been offered mediation to help resolve the conflict
• 93% said that unresolved conflict had affected them ‘badly’ or ‘very badly’
• 45% described the culture of dealing with conflict in their organisation as: “Conflict is dealt with through ‘behind the scenes’ expressions of discontent that are left unresolved”
• 100% said that having access to an external mediation service would be useful

If you work for a voluntary and community sector organisation or group, do not let funding be a barrier because Peacebuilders operates on a not-for-profit basis. Get in touch for an informal and confidential chat.

In March 2009, we launched a charitable project called 'Peacebuilders Mediation for Communities' which provides mediation at an extremely reduced rate to voluntary and community organisations and groups in the Manchester and Greater Manchester areas. If you are part of a voluntary sector organisation or group in these areas, contact us for further information.

Alternatives to mediation

Peacebuilders also offers:

• facilitation of difficult meetings, away days and focus groups
• one-to-one conflict resolution coaching and advice
• in-house training in conflict prevention, conflict awareness and conflict resolution skills
• training in conflict mediation

If you are not sure what is most appropriate, do get in touch for a confidential conversation.