Problems Next Door? Mediation Can Help!

Every year in Scotland there are thousands of problems between neighbours.  Mediation offers a way of resolving these informally, without the expense and time involved in legal remedies. It is practical, confidential, and free. East Lothian Community Mediation is an independent service managed by the national community safety charity SACRO which has dealt with hundreds of neighbour difficulties since it opened in 1999.

Problems range from minor disagreements to serious and long standing disputes. Common causes include noise, parking, children, boundaries, pets and abusive behaviour. Often difficulties affect whole areas or groups of people.

The Role of the Mediator.

Mediation is a voluntary process. If people would like to resolve their differences, trained mediators will arrange to meet everyone involved separately. Mediators are neutral, their role is to hear about the difficulties and help people decide what they would like to see happen in the future. The mediators:

* Listen to their views, feelings, concerns and suggestions of all concerned
* Help those involved find common ground and consider suitable solutions
* Allow people to withdraw at any stage of the process
* Assist in working out a practical agreement that everyone is happy with

But mediators don’t

* Come up with solutions
* Take sides, decide who is to blame or judge people in any way
* Tell people they must be friends
* Make people meet with others involved in the dispute if they don’t want to
* Put anyone in a situation where they may be at risk

For more information about how mediation can help neighbours resolve their difficulties, contact East Lothian Community Mediation Service, 18 Bridge Street, Musselburgh, EH21 6AGTel: 0131 653 3421 Fax: 0131 653 3071
E-mail: info@eastlothian.sacro.org.uk