Every month, we will be sharing all the exciting things occurring within the FMA. This is the best place to find out what is happening in the FMA community, and a great opportunity for us to share relevant information and connect with our FMA members.
We hope you enjoy!
The Family Justice Council will hold its twelfth Open Meeting remotely via MS Teams on:
Monday 13 July 2026
11:00am – 2:00pm
The FJC is an interdisciplinary body made up of judges, lawyers, doctors, social workers, academics, civil servants, and others with an interest in the family justice system. The Council monitors the effectiveness of the family justice system in England and Wales, advises on reform, and promotes interdisciplinary working.
The Open Meeting provides an opportunity for members of the public to observe the Council at work and concludes with a Q&A session.
To register to attend
The closing date for registration is 12.00 on 8 July 2026.
To submit a question to the Council and register to attend the meeting
To attend remotely, please complete the registration form.
Registration deadline: 12:00pm on 8 July 2026.
Please note that questions must be submitted in advance and, due to time constraints, not all questions may be answered.
MS Teams joining details will be circulated to registered attendees by 12:00pm on Friday 10 July 2026.
On 17 June, FMA members Beverley Sayers and Anna Vollans joined colleagues from the Family Mediation Council (FMC) at a Parliamentary drop-in event hosted by Andrew Lewin MP in Portcullis House.
The event provided an opportunity to engage with MPs and raise awareness of the important role family mediation plays in supporting separating families and improving outcomes for children. Discussions included improving access to mediation through Legal Aid, the importance of effective regulation, and the need to increase public awareness of family mediation services.
The delegation met with a number of parliamentarians, including Andy Slaughter MP, Chair of the Justice Select Committee. They highlighted the impact of parental conflict on children and the positive long-term outcomes associated with early intervention and family mediation.
FMA is proud to see its members contributing to these important conversations and helping to ensure that family mediation remains high on the policy agenda.
The Family Mediators Association (FMA) is pleased to share an important update regarding the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Family Mediation Voucher Scheme.
Following representations made by the FMC Voucher Working Group to the MoJ, the issue affecting the payment of previously approved Family Mediation Vouchers where, in exceptional circumstances, only one client had signed the consent forms has now been resolved.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that:
The issue appears to have arisen because the agreed exceptional circumstances process, established between the MoJ, the Family Mediation Council and the FMC Voucher Working Group when the FMC administered the scheme, was not carried forward within Opia.
If you have suspended vouchers that are not paid promptly, please notify the Family Mediation Council or contact Beverley Sayers via the FMA office. Beverley represents the FMA on the FMC Voucher Working Group and will help ensure any outstanding issues are raised.
We welcome this positive outcome and thank everyone involved in working with the Ministry of Justice to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
The Family Mediators Association is delighted to congratulate Helen Adam, an FMA member, on being awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in The King’s Birthday Honours 2026.
Helen has been recognised for her outstanding services to families, children and young people through her work as Chair of Family Solutions Group and Senior Family Mediator at Wells Family Mediation.
This well-deserved honour recognises Helen’s longstanding dedication to supporting families and her significant contribution to the family mediation profession.
On behalf of everyone at FMA, we extend our warmest congratulations to Helen on this fantastic achievement and thank her for the invaluable work she continues to do for families and the wider mediation community.
Earlier this month, members of the FMA team attended the OnlyMums & Dads Conference in Devon, joining family justice professionals from across the sector to share knowledge, experience and best practice.
FMA Vice President Beverley Sayers delivered a thought-provoking session on Child Inclusive Mediation and the Voice of the Child, highlighting the importance of ensuring children’s perspectives are heard throughout the mediation process.
Carlie Norris also took part in a performance of Daisy Through the Looking Glass, written by Stephen Wildblood KC MCIArb, Vice President of the FMA. The production explores an important question: once the court has made its decision, what does that decision mean for the child at the centre of the case, and how will it shape Daisy’s future?
The conference provided a valuable opportunity for learning, discussion and collaboration, with important conversations focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
Through the Standards and Documents Committee the FMA has prepared guidance to support mediators in explaining confidentiality to clients prior to a MIAM.
We recognise that this can be a challenging area to navigate, balancing the requirements of the Standards, Guidance and Code with the need to be empathetic and to build rapport during early contact with prospective mediation clients. This guidance sets out what MIAM participants need to know in advance of their first individual meeting, and how mediators can ensure they are working safely and within the relevant requirements from the outset.
Those involved in drafting the guidance are grateful to members of YFMA for ‘road-testing’ the note with us and helping to ensure the final version is clear and accessible.
Head to our members area to see more details
The Separated Parenting Programme Directory is a valuable tool for signposting clients to additional support.
It brings together trusted parenting programmes designed to:
• Improve communication
• Support children’s wellbeing
• Build co-parenting confidence
➡️ https://separatedparentingprogrammedirectory.org/
A useful complement to mediation practice.