College of Mediators

28/04/2026

How can we rethink SEND Mediation against the backdrop of shrinking budgets, rising cases and the SEND White Paper?

We are delighted to announced that Hugo Besterman, Katie Jolly and Chloe Evans will be delivering a workshop on this very question at the College of Mediators Conference on 4th June 2026 at Westminster Law School - University of Westminster

The workshop will session ground delegates in the traditional model of SEND mediation — using Prime Resolution’s approach as a framework — before examining the pressures reshaping the landscape: budgets, case numbers and the SEND White Paper, which proposes an even greater role for mediation, though with much still to be confirmed, the direction of travel presents both opportunity and uncertainty. The session will then open up the debate around the pros and cons of the various mediation models currently in use and close by inviting delegates to consider not just the economic cost of getting SEND mediation wrong, but the very real mental health cost — to children, families, and the professionals working alongside them — when the system fails to deliver.

Conference tickets are available via link in bio!

28/04/2026

How do institutional processes shape identity, create stigma, and influence conflict dynamics?

We are excited to announce that Marilyn Webster will be delivering a workshop titled ‘A Response to System-Induced Trauma: A Sociological Perspective on the Role of the Mediator’ at the College of Mediators Conference 9-6pm on 4th June 2026 at Westminster Law School - University of Westminster.

Marilyn’s workshop explores mediation through a sociological lens, focusing on how individuals experience “system-induced trauma” when interacting with formal institutions.

Drawing on Erving Goffman, it examines how institutional processes can shape identity, create stigma, and influence conflict dynamics. The mediator’s role is reframed as one of managing power, restoring voice, and reducing the impact of systemic pressures on parties.

Participants will consider how mediation can humanise institutional encounters, support dignity, and enable more balanced engagement between individuals and systems.

Conference tickets are available via link in bio!

27/04/2026

How do institutional processes shape identity, create stigma, and influence conflict dynamics?

We are excited to announce that Marilyn Webster will be delivering a workshop titled ‘A Response to System-Induced Trauma: A Sociological Perspective on the Role of the Mediator’ at the College of Mediators Conference 9-6pm on 4th June 2026 at Westminster Law School - University of Westminster.

Marilyn’s workshop explores mediation through a sociological lens, focusing on how individuals experience “system-induced trauma” when interacting with formal institutions.

Drawing on Erving Goffman, it examines how institutional processes can shape identity, create stigma, and influence conflict dynamics. The mediator’s role is reframed as one of managing power, restoring voice, and reducing the impact of systemic pressures on parties.

Participants will consider how mediation can humanise institutional encounters, support dignity, and enable more balanced engagement between individuals and systems.

Conference tickets are available via link in bio!

10/04/2026

How can you harness the ‘me’ in mediation?

We are excited to announce that Nancy Radford will be delivering a workshop on ‘Reflecting on the Effective Use of “Me” in Mediation’ at the College of Mediators Conference on 4th June 2026 at Westminster Law School - University of Westminster.

This will be an interactive workshop which covers the theory of reflective debrief and character strengths. Practical exercises will highlight your strengths, and use reflective debrief to consider how they have impacted your mediation practice and how you might “dial up” or dial down your strengths in future practice.

Conference tickets are available via the link in bio!

27/03/2026

⚠️ Early bird tickets are almost gone! ⚠️

The College of Mediators Annual Conference is happening on
📅 4 June 2026 | ⏰ 9am–6pm

We’re bringing together mediators from ALL sectors for a day of insight, connection, and inspiration.

Whether you’re established or just starting out, this is your space to learn, network, and grow. 11 hours of CPD!

🎟️ Don’t miss out—secure your early bird ticket before they’re gone!

18/03/2026

🎟 Early Bird Tickets Now Available! – College of Mediators Conference 4 June 2026

The College of Mediators Annual Conference returns on 4 June 2026 for a full day dedicated to connection, insight and professional growth.

As an organisation representing mediators across all sectors — including civil, commercial, workplace, family, community and beyond — the conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the profession.

Whether you are newly accredited or highly experienced, this event will provide space to share practice, explore developments and strengthen our collective voice.

Early booking is now open — we look forward to seeing you there! :

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/college-of-mediators-conference-2026-tickets-1984318859124

26/02/2026

📅 Save the Date 📅 – College of Mediators Annual Conference: Thursday 4th June 2026 (9:30am – 6pm), central London

The College of Mediators Annual Conference returns on 4th June 2026 for a full day dedicated to connection, insight and professional growth.

As an organisation representing mediators across all sectors — including workplace, family, civil and commercial, community and beyond — the conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with colleagues from across the profession.

Whether you are newly trained or highly experienced, this event will provide space to share practice, explore developments and strengthen our collective voice.

The event offers up to 9 CPD points, with a in-person networking drinks reception in central London from 5-6pm.

Further details to follow — we look forward to welcoming you.

15/05/2025

📢 College of Mediators Webinar Event Timetable is Live!📢

We are delighted to share the full schedule for our upcoming webinar series on 4th and 5th June 2025, featuring an outstanding line-up of speakers from across the mediation sector.

From court orders in family mediation to perception and decision-making, commercial practice, SEND support, and more – this is a CPD opportunity not to be missed.

💡 Mediators across specialisms will find valuable tools, tips, and insights to take their practice further.

➡️ View the full programme here and book your tickets via link in bio!

12/12/2024

Today is the day! There are only a few hours until the National Mediation Awards ceremony tonight at 6.30pm and the organising committee is working hard to get everything ready. We can't wait to celebrate with all of you tonight!

No matter who takes home the awards tonight, the 2024 Shortlist showcases an extraordinary array of talent! Best of luck tonight to Felicity Steadman, Jenny Owen, Marie Coombes, Dr Renu Raj, Bill Marsh, Frederick Way, Jo O’Sullivan, Nicola Crowther, Sarah Manning, Edward Cooke, Leah Caldwell, Mabel Edge, Fiona Sawkins, Stuart Hanson, Ursula Little, Children 1st Mediation, 174 Family Law - Family Mediation Solutions, Family Mediation Trust, Polly Walker, Tracey Adamson, Caroline Reeve-Johnson, Kelley Thorogood, Nicola Cleaver, Jane Bridge, Mel Bruce, Tony Allen, Jessica Loram, Laura Tweedy, Shona Crallan, Insley Etienne, Nikki Edwards, Jeremy Lawrence, Colin Bourne, The Mediation Space, Wandsworth Mediation Service, Bryan Clark, Jaime Lyndsey, Charlotte McCourt, The Polish Centre for Legal Education (PCEP), Pragmatism (UK) Ltd, The TCM Group, Anglia Care Trust, University College London Hospitals Mediation Service, Abourthorne Primary School, Exning Primary School, and Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School.

The Awards are made possible by our generous Sponsors. We would like to thank Ambassador Sponsor The TCM Group, Headline Sponsor By Personal Touch - Amicable Divorce Paperwork & Support and our fantastic Award Sponsors.

The Awards are organised by the College of Mediators and the Civil Mediation Council, in association with the Family Mediation Council.

28/11/2024

Tony Whatling M.Sc. CQSW.

It is with great sadness that the College has to announce that Tony Whatling passed away last weekend, aged 85. Tony was a director of the College of Mediators, and a Fellow of the College as well.

Some of you will have know Tony personally, even more by his reputation, Here is a summary of Tony's career;
Starting from a professional background in social work child care; adult mental health; family therapy; psychotherapy; area team management, and ten years as head of Social Work Education, Ruskin Anglia University Cambridge. His M.Sc is in ‘The Sociology of Mental Health’. Tony has over 35 years of experience as a mediator, practice consultant, trainer and author. Given that 30 years ago mediation was only just evolving in the UK, there were very few service providers or trainers, other than in Family mediation. With significant help from existing specialists in those fields, he developed other contexts and subsequently trained hundreds of mediators in Family; Community/neighbour; Health Care Complaints Conciliation; Victim Offender and Workplace mediation contexts, until they had established their own services and training.

Over ten years he designed and delivered culturally appropriate, - ‘Communitarian/Collectivist’, training - as opposed to the predominant, ‘Western individualist’ models - to over 1,400 Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim mediators, in Pakistan; India; Kenya; Uganda; Tanzania; Syria; Afghanistan; Portugal; UK; USA; and Canada.

He has presented papers and workshops at several international conferences, and published over 40 articles on mediation. He is one of the founder members of the College of Mediators, formerly the UK College of Family Mediators. Now retired from practice, he continues to write, is a College advisor and is an active member of the Professional Standards Committee.

In short, Tony played a central role in the development of family mediation from the 1970's onwards; few other people can make that claim.

Tony had a long standing serious health condition which meant I was never able to meet him in person, but from the Board meetings held online, his enthusiasm for improving the standing of mediation in the UK was still very strong; his last Board meeting was last week on 21 November. I am writing up the minutes of that meeting now using the Zoom recording, and it is hard to accept that I won't see him again. We have lost a dear friend and we will not see his like again.

Our condolences go to his son Steve and the rest of his family.

Martin Ellis
Chair, the College of Mediators

15/11/2024