Community mediation
When neighbours stop talking
A voluntary, confidential conversation, helped along by someone impartial. No blame, no judgment, and no decision imposed on anyone.
Cost
Quoted per case
Confidential
Always
Voluntary
Either side can stop
Referrals
Self, agency or landlord
What mediation actually is
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where people in conflict are helped by a neutral third party to resolve things collaboratively. The mediator never takes sides and never imposes a solution — they help the people involved reach something they can both live with, which is then written down if that helps.
It improves communication, builds on whatever common ground exists, and is a proven and cost-effective way of resolving conflict. It is also, usually, a great deal faster than the alternatives.
How it works
Nothing happens without both sides agreeing to it.
Step one
Someone gets in touch
You, a neighbour, a housing officer, a community worker or an agency. Anyone can refer, including yourself. We listen to what has happened.
Step two
We meet each side separately
Privately and confidentially, so everyone can say what they actually think before deciding whether to go further. Plenty of cases resolve at this stage.
Step three
A joint conversation, if both agree
A structured meeting on neutral ground with two mediators. You control what is discussed and what, if anything, is written down at the end.
What we mediate
Neighbour disputes — noise, boundaries, parking, gardens, behaviour, and the long-running things that started years ago over something small.
Community disputes — between groups, between organisations working on the same patch, or between a community and an agency.
Anti-social behaviour, and racist or sectarian incidents, including through our work with the Housing Executive.
Interface tension, parades, bonfires and contested space — the work that needs people who have done it before.
Common questions
Does it cost anything?
Yes. We are a charity, but not a free service. Community groups pay 25% less than our standard rate, and a good deal of community work is paid for by a funder rather than by the people taking part. Where a specific programme covers the cost, we say so on that programme.
What if the other person will not take part?
Then it does not go ahead — mediation only works when it is voluntary. We can still talk to you about other options, and sometimes a separate conversation with each side is enough on its own.
Is it confidential?
Yes. What is said in mediation stays there, with the usual exceptions where someone is at risk of harm.
Will I have to sit in a room with them?
Only if you choose to. Some cases are resolved entirely through separate meetings, with the mediator carrying messages between the two sides.
How long does it take?
We contact everyone within two working days of getting their details, and arrange assessment meetings within a further five. An early intervention case usually completes within a few weeks; longer cases depend on complexity and on when people are free.
Next step
Get in touch
Tell us briefly what has happened and we will come back to you. There is no form to fill in and no formal process to start — a phone call is enough.