Oxfordshire Mediation

What does Mediation do ?

- helps people to settle differences or arguments quickly and confidentially

- Iooks to the future not to the past

- does not try to prove right or wrong but helps people to work out what they want to change to make things better .

- supports people in communicating clearly and in exploring ways forward that feel all right for everyone involved

When can it help ?

- disagreements between neighbours about anything
- arguments in the local community
- disputes with schools or in schools
- disputes between landlords and tenants
- conflict at work
- arguments between people, groups or organisations

Mediation can help with problems with:

- noise
- boundaries
- abusive behaviour
- building works
- cars and parking
- dogs and other animals
- children's play

or

when the problem is with an organisation (like the local authority or a school) we can often help when you do not understand why a particular decision has been taken.

How does mediation work ?

Trained mediators will:
- Iisten to you and understand your feelings
- not take sides, judge or blame anyone
- not tell you what to do or what not to do
- work with you to help you decide how to make things better

How much does it cost ?

The local authority, the police, many District Councils and housing associations ask us to provide mediation. They pay us to do this. If you are referred by an organisation that has this kind of arrangement with the service, you do not have to pay anything. If not, you will be asked if you are able to pay towards the cost of providing the mediation. If you cannot pay, this will not affect the service that you receive.

Mediation works in steps

Step 1 mediators visit you to:

- hear how you see the problem

- help you to think about ways to make things better

- explain more about mediation

Step 2 mediators visit the other person or people who are part of the problem to:

- help them to think about ways to make things better

- explain more about mediation

If you, rather than an organisation, have asked us to help, we won't contact anybody else without your agreement.

Step 3 if you are all willing mediators will arrange for everyone to meet together to:

- say what the problem is for them

- listen to what the problem is for the others involved

- work out what is most important

- talk about what each person or group would like to happen

- decide what everyone can do

We are committed to a high quality and accessible service for all: so your feedback and suggestions for improvement are always welcome.

This information is also available in Chinese, Punjabi and Bengali.

Mediation Oxfordshire, Regal Community Centre, Ridgefield Road, Oxford OX4 3BY
Tel: 01865 776 789 - 24 hour answerphone
Fax: 01865 776 789
e-mail

Mediation Oxfordshire is funded by Cherwell District Council, Cherwell Housing Trust, Ealing Family Housing Association, Oxford Citizens Housing Association, Oxford City Council Environmental Health. Oxford City Housing Department, South Oxfordshire Housing Association, South Oxfordshire District Council, Thames Valley Police, Vale of White Horse District Council, and many other local and national charitable trusts and donors

We are grateful to all for their support