Who is The Family Mediation Trust?
The Family Mediation Trust is a registered charity that has been helping families through separation and dispute for over 40 years. We are not a law firm. We do not take sides. Our job is to help you have the conversations that matter — and turn them into agreements you can both live with.
We work with families across Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, Peterborough, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, and online across England.
Where we came from
The Trust was founded in 1983 by people who believed there had to be a better way to resolve family disputes than going to court. At the time, family mediation was a new idea in England. Forty years later, it is recognised by the legal system, recommended by courts, and supported by Government funding — but the principle behind it remains the same: that families are better placed to make their own decisions than a judge who has never met them.
We have grown significantly over the decades, merging with other established services to extend our reach, but we remain a charity. That means our focus is on the families we serve, not on profit.
What we actually do
We provide mediation for families dealing with the fallout of separation — disagreements over arrangements for children, how to divide finances and property, and what happens to the family home. We also offer mediation for inheritance disputes, and for parents who need to revisit agreements that are no longer working.
Mediation is not counselling, and it is not legal advice. It is a structured, confidential process in which a trained and impartial mediator helps both parties work through their issues and, where possible, reach a practical agreement.
Most people find that mediation is faster, less stressful, and significantly cheaper than going to court. For many families, it also produces better outcomes — because the agreement comes from you, not from a judge.
Who we are
Our mediators are accredited by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), the professional standards body for family mediators in England and Wales. Accreditation requires rigorous training, supervised practice, and ongoing professional development.
We are a Legal Aid provider, which means clients who qualify financially can access mediation at no cost. We also administer the Government's £500 Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, which is available for cases involving children. We handle all the administration for this — you do not need to do anything extra.
The Trust is a registered charity (No. 1041476) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England (No. 2975404).
Where to start
The first step is a MIAM — a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting. This is a one-to-one session between you and a mediator, lasting up to an hour, in which we explain how mediation works, assess whether it is suitable for your situation, and answer any questions you have. If you are required by a court to attend a MIAM before making an application, we can provide the certificate you need.
The MIAM costs £140, but if you are on a low income or qualifying benefits you may be eligible for Legal Aid, which means there is nothing to pay.
Where we work
We deliver most of our mediation online, which means we can work with families across England regardless of location. For cases where face-to-face sessions are more appropriate, we have venues in Norwich, Cambridge, Peterborough, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn, Bedford, Bury St Edmunds, Harlow, Chelmsford, and Leiston, the mediator will make this decision.