Mediation services

Mediation helps to open up the lines of communication between all parties involved in a disagreement or argument. It takes place in safe and controlled environment giving you the opportunity to be listened to. You’ll be supported by trained and professional mediators, who will listen to what you have to say in an impartial and confidential setting.

You can use it to settle:

• neighbour disputes
• family disputes
• peer disputes, for example between students or young people

Call us on 01786 233533 to speak to a trained mediator. We’re open Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm.

1. we'll discuss your individual issues and agree the best course of action
2. we'll allocate a trained mediator to meet with you at a mutually convenient time and place
3. we'll discuss the problems or issues you have with all parties involved
4. once we’ve spoken to you, we'll contact those involved to confirm that they wish to participate

Most kind of disputes can be mediated, provided those involved want to find a way forward. Mediation is especially suitable when the aim is to maintain good family relationships, sustain employment relationships and to live life in neighbourhoods and at school without conflict or fear.

Mediation is often successful when those in the conflict work directly with the mediator to resolve it, especially if you need to live together or work together in the future. Experience shows that you are then able to convey how you feel. Open discussions in a controlled environment with the mediators ensures fairness and appropriate behaviour – this can be key to sorting things out.

Mediation is voluntary, it only works when all involved in the dispute agree to take part, without being forced. Anyone working or living within the Stirling area can use the mediation service free of charge.

Mediators are completely impartial and are there to provide a safe environment and ensure the meeting is carried out in a calm and respectful manner. They will ensure each party has equal time to speak.

You can bring someone to the meeting to support you, but you must tell us before the meeting as those involved must know who will be attending.

If you feel too angry or upset to go through mediation, that’s fine. People who experience conflict often feel like this. Mediators are used to strong emotions and there is no problem with expressing these to us. If you go ahead with mediation, we can help you with strategies to support you if you lose your temper or become upset.

For many people involved in disputes, legal solutions are not appropriate. This can be because laws and regulations don’t apply to your situation. Or perhaps the public, police, employers and solicitors feel they don’t have enough evidence to act on, or using the law would only make things worse. Legal action to deal with neighbour issues can be lengthy and expensive. Even if you win, you’ll probably remain neighbours or work together.

That’s why mediation works so well – it offers solutions for the future that will be acceptable to everyone involved, and will often work where all other approaches have failed.

Mediators must make sure that mediation discussions are fair and that everyone feels safe. Mediators will consult with both parties at the beginning of the process to find out if there has been abuse or violence and any charges pending. If so, we are usually unable to continue with the process.