£500 Voucher scheme for mediation costs

 We are very aware of the huge costs of living pressures on families just now and if you are splitting up and trying to fund two homes that is even harder .

 

So we are really pleased to explain the Government voucher scheme which is:

• Available to all who need to sort out any arrangements to do with children
• Has no limit on what you earn
• Easy to apply for as CFFM do most of this for you

Hundreds of our families have already benefited from this but many say they do not know about it so we hope this blog will help.

 

What is on offer

The government has created a fund to help with the costs of mediation to help reduce the numbers needing to apply to courts.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/family-mediation-voucher-scheme#what-is-the-family-mediation-voucher-scheme

This will give each family up to £500 towards their mediation costs to sort out child arrangements if they do not already qualify for free mediation through Legal Aid.

This can be shared between the two parents but the total funding per family is £500.

 

Am I eligible for the Voucher?

• You are eligible provided you are trying to sort out child arrangements or a combination of children and financial matters.
• If you are seeking to resolve financial matters only then you are not eligible.
• You are eligible irrespective of your income

 

How the scheme works

• The scheme covers the costs of actual mediation sessions only but not initial individual MIAM sessions. However, you are in luck as CFFM already offers those initial consultations free.
• The payments will be made directly to the mediation service who will claim instead of asking you for payment after a mediation session. So you do not have to pay upfront and then wait to get the money back.
• All you need to do is to complete a simple Consent Form before we apply for payment FMC voucher scheme\Client Consent Form for Mediation Voucher Scheme.docx
• At the end of the process, you may be asked to provide some feedback as to whether mediation helped resolve matters but that is optional.

 

How does this link to Legal Aid funding?

• If you qualify for free mediation through Legal Aid because you are on benefits or a low income, then use that instead of the Voucher scheme as it covers the whole mediation process without the £500 limit.
• If your ex-partner qualifies for free mediation you can get one session free linked to his/her Legal Aid eligibility and any further costs covered by the voucher scheme – see separate leaflet enclosed re Legal Aid.

What do I do now?

Contact the service by phone or email for more information or speak to your mediator at your initial consultation.

Children First Family Mediation

Email: admin@childrenfirstfamilymediation.org.uk

Tel: 0161 763 8793