Community Law & Mediation (CLM) provides free mediation and conflict coaching services designed to help people manage conflicts and resolve disputes early.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process where people involved in a dispute meet with independent, accredited mediators to work towards mutually agreeable solutions. The mediators support them to communicate, explore their options and work together to reach a mutually acceptable outcome.
Mediation is for everyone and can be life changing. When people are struggling with conflict in their lives, be it with family, neighbours, or work colleagues, mediation provides the opportunity to express their views and needs, with the support of impartial mediators, in order to reach an agreement that works for everyone involved. Resolving conflict in this way gives everyone a say in finding a lasting solution and the peace of mind needed to get on with their lives.
The Unmet Needs for Mediation
A recent CLM commissioned report highlighted the significant unmet need for mediation in Ireland, particularly among communities experiencing disadvantage.
It identified three key barriers to accessing mediation:
Low awareness of mediation
Uneven access to services
Limited resources to develop more accessible and specialised supports
The research highlighted the significant but largely untapped potential for mediation, when used appropriately, to prevent and resolve disputes in a range of settings. It also highlighted the importance of mediative practices such as conflict coaching or community dialogue processes, which can play a vital role in easing tensions or preparing individuals for mediation.
Responding to the Findings: A Community Focused Approach
In response, CLM has strengthened its approach to focus on delivering accessible community based services, including an expanded mediation, conflict coaching and community education offering alongside greater outreach to groups that may not otherwise access support.
CLM’s expanded approach highlights the value of mediation in everyday settings such as schools, neighbourhoods and families. In schools, it can help parents, teachers and staff resolve disputes constructively, improving communication around issues such as discipline, reasonable accommodation needs and student wellbeing, while supporting positive relationships within the school community. In neighbourhoods, it offers a practical, less stressful alternative to escalation or legal action, helping people address issues such as noise, litter, anti-social behaviour and shared spaces in an informal, solution focused way.
Elder mediation supports families to address conflicts relating to ageing relatives in a safe and structured way. It allows everyone to be heard, while helping families reach agreement on care, responsibilities and financial matters. The process respects the dignity and autonomy of the older person and can also help preserve and improve family relationships over time.
Those who may be hesitant to proceed with mediation, or for whom it may not be appropriate, might benefit from our conflict coaching service. Conflict coaching is a structured one-on-one process that helps people develop the skills and confidence needed to better manage and engage with interpersonal conflicts. Our trained coaches work with our clients to build competence and confidence in managing their personal conflict.
It is useful in short and long term conflict resolution, or as mediation preparation.
Getting in touch
As well as our mediation and conflict coaching services, CLM works with community groups including family resource centres, women’s groups, men’s sheds, senior groups and youth groups, delivering “know your rights” talks on mediation and legal issues.
Services are free but must be booked in advance.
Contact 01 847 7804 or visit the Northside Civic Centre, Bunratty Road, Dublin 17, 9.30am–1pm daily to arrange an appointment.