By Carole Brennan
Sometimes talking things through can seem the hardest challenge of all.
Often, relationships break down with feelings of hurt, bitterness and anger, but almost always the very best solutions are those which you can work out for yourselves, within a mediation process, which are acceptable to everyone involved.
Simon Hughes, the Justice Minister, has announced the Governments support for out of Court Dispute Resolution Services such as family mediation to be more ‘child inclusive’.
As a mediator trained to see children directly in mediation, I welcome Simon Hughes’ comments that the Government are committed to children having a greater say in Family Court cases.
Simon Hughes said “for too long, children and young people have struggled to have their voices heard during the Family Court process. Although they are often at the centre of proceedings, the views of children and how they feel are often not heard by the people making vital decisions for them”.
Last year there were 90,000 children involved in new Court cases in the Family Courts and welcomes the announcement the Government is going to do what they can to ensure that children’s voices are heard and in particular allow options outside Court to be at the forefront of helping parents resolves disputes over children in an environment in which the children can also be heard.