The FMA continues to strengthen its representation in the mediation field, with our board members actively contributing to key industry groups and policy discussions. We’re proud to offer a range of professional development courses designed to enhance mediators’ skills in critical areas of practice. Our training program features expert-led sessions that address current challenges and emerging best practices in family mediation. The highlight of our 2025 calendar will be the FMA Annual Conference – an inspiring two-day event focused on diversity, innovation and building our professional community. Save the date for this unique opportunity to learn, network and shape the future of mediation practice together.
This May, we’ve been focusing on supporting children through family mediation, and our commitment continues into June with several exciting opportunities to hear FMA members share their expertise.
📢 Only Mums and Only Dads Conference – Friday 6th June
FMA Board Member Carlie Norris will be speaking alongside Helen Adam, offering valuable insights on co-parenting and family dynamics. Don’t miss this chance to hear from two leading voices in the field.
🎤 Voice of the Child Conference – Thursday 12th June
Our very own Beverley Sayers (FMA Board Secretary, FMC Liaison, and Conference Committee member) will be presenting, ensuring the mediator’s perspective is heard in discussions about centring children’s voices in family proceedings.
🎧 The Modern Mann Podcast
FMA Board Member Nick Coffer will be featured in an upcoming episode, diving into key topics like fatherhood, divorce, and men’s experiences in the family justice system. Keep an eye out for the release!
These events are a fantastic way to see FMA members leading the conversation on critical issues in family mediation. Let’s support our colleagues and celebrate the FMA’s growing influence in the sector!
Date: June 4, 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Trainer: Simon Shattock
Price: Standard rate: £40+ VAT for members | £70 + VAT for non-members
This training is designed to empower mediators and legal professionals who work with couples in intense conflict, aiming to restore stability and hope where disputes have become overwhelming. The course integrates current research on systemic practices and evidence-based methods to improve mediation approaches in challenging high-conflict cases.
Participants will engage with:
The day combines lectures, video materials, role-play exercises, and case study discussions, equipping professionals with research-backed strategies to navigate and reduce high-conflict situations effectively in their work.
Register 👉 Managing High-Conflict Couples for Mediators and Legal Professionals
Date: June 10 & 11, 2025
Time: 9am – 5pm
Trainer/Speaker: Beverley Sayers
Price: Standard rate: £380 + VAT for members | £480 + VAT for non-members
Become a PPC: Family Mediators Association Training in Leeds
Elevate your professional practice with the Family Mediators Association’s (FMA) Professional Practice Consultant (PPC) Foundation Training Course, taking place in person on 10th and 11th June 2025 at the HEART Centre, Leeds.
Designed for experienced family mediators, this comprehensive training equips you to take on the pivotal role of PPC, supporting and supervising fellow mediators in their development and practice.
Delivered by Beverley Sayers, an experienced mediator and PPC with a passion for empowering others, this two-day course delivers essential skills, insights, and tools to confidently step into the PPC role.
This two-day Intensive Training course combines lectures, role plays, case discussions, and assessments and is designed to challenge and stimulate your thinking. You will gain a thorough understanding of the skills and knowledge required to meet the FMC’s current standards and successfully completing the course leads to official recognition as a Professional Practice Consultant (PPC).
This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to excel as a PPC, covering key areas such as:
The course doesn’t stop when the 2 day training ends! Participants will benefit from a 12-month support package, ensuring a smooth transition into their new role. This includes ongoing guidance, resources, and access to a network of professionals to help you excel as a PPC.
Register 👉 PPC Foundation Training
Date: June 17, 2025
Start Time: 10pm – 4pm
Trainer/Speaker: Beverley Sayers
Price: Standard rate: £190 + VAT for members | £190 + VAT for non-members
This course has been approved by the Family Mediation Council (FMC).
There are standards and requirements for Child Inclusive Mediation practice and training -click here to view.
There is a requirement for ALL mediators to integrate elements of CIM into their regular practice and to be able to discuss with parents, from the Assessment meeting onwards, ways in which ‘the voice of the child’ may be heard.
This course will give you experience in understanding how CIM works in practice and how to approach CIM with parents, along with the opportunity to consider its benefits and when it may be inappropriate. The course will offer a range of input, discussions, role play and exercises.
Register 👉 Child Inclusive Mediation (CIM) Awareness and Understanding Day
Date: June 24, 2025
Time: 10am – 12pm
Trainer/Speaker: Liza Thompson
Price: Standard rate: £40+ VAT for members | £70 + VAT for non-members
Domestic abuse, and particularly coercive control are often “hidden in plain sight” – this training session will equip mediators with an understanding of the nature and nuances of abusive behaviours, the effects of these behaviours on victims and simple actions all professionals can take to advise and support people who disclose domestic abuse.
The session will include film clips, case studies from practice, and opportunities for delegates to ask questions of the trainer.
Dr Liza Thompson has worked within the domestic abuse sector for many years.
She is a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA) and led a specialist domestic abuse charity for 8 years until August 2021 when she moved into freelance work.
Register 👉 Coercive Control Awareness
Our online conference in September – “A Gender Agenda” – was fantastically well attended and received. We will be continuing our theme of Embracing Diversity In Mediation throughout the next six months, culminating in the 2025 conference.
Following the great success of our first fully residential conference at Northampton in September 2023, we now return to the in-person two-day format to build on the opportunities it provides for strengthening the FMA Community. We have also shifted the main conference away from the busy conference and training season in September/October.
Over these two days, we invite you to Imagine the Expanding Diversity of Humanity, Human Relationships, and of Family Mediation Practice. We encourage you to use your imaginations both to understand better the challenges faced by the families and individuals we serve, and to develop the offering we provide to those families.
Day One – “All You Need Is…” – is our day for awareness, through expert presentations and lively plenary discussion. You’ll be invited to join an innovative finance workshop –“Can’t Buy Me Love.”
Day Two – “We Can Work It Out” – is our day for reflecting on practice and developing together, through experiential discussion and specialised workshops. The workshop topics will, as always, reflect different aspects of re-accreditation and portfolio CPD.
The two days of learning will be punctuated by a Hard Day’s Night of fun, including dinner, a costumed cabaret, and either or both a silent disco or live band.
The Adelphi Hotel has an extraordinary history and is an ideal location to meet together in the North West. We think you’ll love it as a conference venue! We look forward to seeing you there!
Learn more 👉 FMA Annual Conference – The Family Mediators Association
