Family Mediation Trust awards grant to the Family Mediation Council to enhance domestic abuse screening in mediation
The Family Mediation Trust (TFMT) is pleased to announce that the Family Mediation Council (FMC) has been awarded funding through the Family Mediation Impact Fund to develop a groundbreaking resource aimed at strengthening domestic abuse screening and assessment within family mediation.
This initiative, supported by a £10,000 grant, will provide family mediators with a standardised tool to assess the suitability of mediation for separating couples, ensuring safe and effective mediation practices for all participants. The project will be developed in consultation with domestic abuse experts, family mediators, and key stakeholders, setting a new standard for domestic abuse screening in mediation across England and Wales.
All MIAMs (Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings) currently include a domestic abuse (DA) screening, ensuring that safety is always a top priority. However, this project will give mediators the tools and confidence to assess DA risks more effectively and provide better support to the whole family when abuse has been part of the dynamic. By enhancing screening processes, mediators will be able to make well-informed decisions about whether mediation is appropriate and, if so, how to manage it safely.
This includes addressing key concerns such as the balance of power between parties and ensuring that mediation remains a structured, supportive process. Crucially, this approach will help keep children at the heart of mediation, reinforcing the profession’s commitment to prioritising their needs and well-being.
A step forward in safe and effective mediation
Commenting on the grant, Tracy Sortwell, Chair of The Family Mediation Trust, said: “Mediators play a crucial role in ensuring that family disputes are handled in a way that prioritises safety and fairness. This project will provide a vital, profession-wide resource to further help mediators assess whether mediation is the right route for separating couples where domestic abuse is a factor and if it is the correct way forward will help mediators implement the tools needed to address issues such as any balance of power. We are delighted to support the FMC in this essential work.”
Stephen Burke, Chair of the Family Mediation Council, welcomed the funding, stating: “The FMC is committed to improving the quality and accessibility of mediation. This grant will enable us to develop a much-needed screening resource to ensure a consistent, high-quality approach across the sector. By equipping mediators with a clear and structured screening process, we can increase confidence in mediation while ensuring safety remains at the forefront of decision-making.
Sophie Francis-Cansfield, Head of Policy at Women’s Aid which sits on the FMC’s Domestic and Child Abuse Panel, added: “Ensuring survivors of domestic abuse are properly assessed before entering mediation is critical. This tool will help ensure that mediators are well-equipped to recognise risk factors and support survivors in making the right decisions for their safety. We welcome this initiative as a step forward to ensuring survivors are not put in positions of further risk.”
Next steps
With funding secured, the FMC will now begin developing the screening tool, engaging with family mediators, domestic abuse organisations, and sector specialists this spring to create a practical and effective resource. The tool will then be integrated into the national training framework, ensuring that all FMC-registered mediators receive comprehensive training on its use.
This implementation will take place through the family mediation training provider network, embedding best practices into both initial training and continuing professional development (CPD) by the end of the year.
