It is common to have to travel to a centre or offices to participate in a mediation.  Participants are not always geographically near each other.  If they are to be in the same vicinity, it is by far the best for everyone to be away from their usual environments and share a neutral space in which the process of mediation can have the best possible chances of success.  It is important the space provided lets every person feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible.  It can take a lot of courage, when emotions and stress have been running high, to agree to a mediation and this is acknowledged by us. 

A true independent mediation does not involve lawyers or legal representation, nor is it an arbitration where there may be a ruling.  It can be a difficult concept to appreciate that the forum is not a courtlike setting to win or lose, or present a case that trumps another's.  It is where everyone gets to be heard, uninterrupted in equal measure.  No arguments need to be presented or cross examined.  Each voice is valid and heard.  It is forward looking.  If you do require a type of mediation that includes legal representation, this may be organised.  Please contact to discuss.

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All who have agreed to be there, attend in the hopes of ending a difficult situation.  You choose the length of mediation you may need.  It may be three hours, it may be two days.  It may succeed earlier than expected, it may run over.  It is a safe space to express thoughts and feelings.  It is private.  No notes or recordings may be kept.  Each is asked to agree to keep it private before the talks begin.

 

There will be many conflicting emotions   Travelling itself, when you are already full of various emotions, can be a stress some could do without.  There are options to deal with this.  One of them is to not to incur costs for venue, time and travel and to opt to have a zoom meeting, which does work surprisingly well.  As it is effectively face to face, usually everyone can easily see past the screens and will communicate as though they were all in the room together.  Individuals can feel safe and unthreatened whilst they remain in their own space during what can sometimes be a difficult process.  So far the statistics for success with this have been good. 

However, if one of the aims is to faciliate progress or repair of relationships, or it is important for other reasons that participants communicate in person, then you may feel it is better to all be in the same room (separate break out rooms will be available). 

You may opt for a combination of both.  The choice is entirely yours.  The mediation is yours also.  If you feel you need to take a break and obtain refreshments from the kitchen, step outside, or break out from the group for a breather, there are seperate spaces available to enable you to do so.  You do not need to feel entrapped within the room and process.

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We have developed the unique Empowered To Talk service.   Priorities can be different.  Difficult family decisions may need to be made about elderly parents, serious illness, disabilities or accidents, or terminally ill family members and an agreement needs to be reached.  You may not be in conflict, but would prefer the structure that allows each voice to be heard without upset and stress with much increased chances of reaching agreement. Whatever the agreement that needs to be reached, contact us to talk it over. 

From a Mediation or Empowered To Talk, a set of tasks can be agreed.  Once done, a follow up mediation or Empowered to Talk meeting (whether by zoom or face to face) can agreed if you wish.  It is your mediation and you can direct what it is that you would like to be achieved.

 

For those meetings that need to be in person, we provide a setting in attractive and peaceful surroundings on Isle of Wight.  It provides an entirely neutral, confidential and peaceful environment for everyone.  All participants have the kind of space that is not clinical or corporate, is informal, quiet and calm.  We aim to provide the type of facility to provide a good mediation experience and a positive outcome. 

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You can opt to make this a day trip or an overnight trip.  This may depend on the length of your mediation. There are a number of places for overnight stays and of course the whole island is easily accessible in around 30 to 40 minutes.   It would be quite understandable that you wish to make the best of the mediation experience and allow yourself "wind down" time before or afterward and the surroundings certainly allow for that.  Sometimes a mediation or Empowered To Talk can facilitate more than a resolution and can help toward the healing of fractured and damaged relationships, or upsetting situations needing some form of closure.  Whatever it is you hope to achieve from your mediation, we hope our centre can support you in this.

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Note : Many mediations benefit from the attendance of co-mediators.  The same conditions apply extending the benefit further to the client.  Please consult with us regarding your matter.

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Having committed to the intention to participate in a mediation, you are already showing that you have agreed to try for a resolution. In recognition of your commitment, and to facilitate the journey to the Isle of Wight Mediation Centre, we offer a deal to both sets of particpants of a refund in ferry costs per party if you are travelling by car, to a maximum of £150.  This deal is available where a party's mediation fees are £1,000 or more.  To clarify, it is where each party's fees exceed £1,000 each party will qualify for the discount.   Enquire to see if you qualify for the ferry refund upon receipt of your crossing charge.  Alternatively, we may be able to offer company discounts for ferry bookings.

We do hope this encourages you to use our Centre and this contributes to providing you with a good mediation experience.

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It is possible to travel directly to the island via train, from London to Shanklin for example, as the crossing is included in the price of a train ticket and is often a cost effective method of travel to the island.  Parking on the mainland and using foot passenger fares on the ferries or hovercraft at either Southampton or Portsmouth are also usually cost effective throughout the year and your chosen accommodation may also include discounts and advise on transfers across the island for you. There are a number of car hire places on the island and a good bus service.  Please discuss your intentions with us if you wish.

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Our Mediation Centre can be used for in person or zoom mediation

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This peaceful, calm environment, and neutral venue gives you excellent chances of an improved mediation experience with a good outcome.  Our centre supports both in person or face to face zoom mediations, so please consult us to organise according to your wishes.  Please visit our costs page to get a better understanding of our costs structure.

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Our experience and skills cover a number of areas.  Training and voluntary work included a number of mediations in fields such as employment problems, disputes and claims, hospital/negligence conflict and claims, contract disputes, community disputes, workplace conflict, inheritance disputes.  Please do contact us to see if we can help.