The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Justice launched a family mediation voucher scheme through which up to £500 is made available to separating families to spend on mediation where they need to make arrangements for their children.

The aim of the scheme was to reduce the backlog in the courts and allow separated families to reach agreement about their child arrangements with less potential for parental conflict. Data from the Family Mediation Council, who administer the scheme on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, shows the success of the scheme so far, with approximately 130 vouchers being accessed online every week, helping over 70% of those families reach agreement and avoid what are often protracted and highly stressful court proceedings.