Family Mediator"Is this for us?"
You have heard of mediation and would like to know whether it fits your situation, or whether something else would serve you better. A general description of what has been happening is plenty to start with.
Contact Us
Contact Family Mediator by Phone
One number for every question, with a few notes on privacy, call charges and what a call can and cannot do.
One telephone number, deliberately
You can reach Family Mediator on 0330 010 0028. It is the only contact route we publish, so if you see another phone number, email address or social media account quoted as ours, please treat it with care.
Why just the telephone
A family matter is often sensitive and hard to summarise. Speaking to someone lets you ask a question and decide how much you want to say, without leaving a written record in a shared inbox.
There is no contact form on this website, and no live chat, so nothing you type here will reach us. That also means there is no place on the site to upload a document, and we would ask you not to send private papers through any other route you may come across. If documents are ever needed, you can ask during a conversation what is required and how it should be provided.
Calls to numbers beginning 03 are usually charged at the same rate as a call to an ordinary landline and are often included in call allowances. Rates are set by your own telephone provider, though, so it is worth checking with them if cost is a concern, particularly if you are calling from abroad or from a pay-as-you-go mobile.
Reasons people pick up the phone
You do not need a formal reason, and you do not have to be certain mediation is for you. These are some of the everyday questions a call can deal with.
"What does it involve?"
You would like to hear what happens at a first meeting, how the other person is approached, whether sessions can be held separately or online, and what the charges are likely to be.
"I have an appointment"
You have already been in touch and need to clarify a detail, ask what to bring or discuss changing something. Have the date to hand if you can, as it may help us find the right information.
Before you dial, a thought about privacy
If you share a home, a device or a phone bill with someone who should not know about this call, it may be better to ring from somewhere else.
Call histories, itemised bills and voice assistants can all reveal more than people expect. Consider where you will be and who might overhear you, and choose a time when you will not be interrupted. You are welcome to say at the start, "I may have to end this call suddenly." We will understand if the line goes quiet, and there is no need to explain yourself afterwards.
You do not have to give a great deal of detail, particularly on a first call. It is usually enough to give the broad subject and your question. Please do not read out bank details or full account numbers, and think carefully before sharing another person's private information. If you would like to understand how details from a call may be handled, the Privacy Policy sets this out.
This number is not for emergencies
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, contact the emergency services straight away. Do not wait to speak to a mediator.
We cannot offer crisis support, and we cannot intervene in a dangerous situation. If you are worried about a child's safety, or you need protection from another person, there are services set up to help quickly, and a solicitor can tell you about urgent legal options. Mediation is never a reason to delay any of these steps.
In the same way, a call to this number does not put a legal deadline on hold. If you have received court papers, or a letter from a solicitor that asks you to respond by a set date, take legal advice promptly. Mediation may still be worth discussing, but it should run alongside that advice rather than taking its place.
If you ring on behalf of someone else
Parents, adult children, friends and professionals sometimes call to find out how mediation works before suggesting it to someone they know.
Relatives and friends
General questions about the service are fine. However, the person concerned must decide for themselves whether to take part, and we may need to speak to them directly. It is usually best to check that they are happy for you to call before sharing anything personal about them.
Solicitors and other professionals
If you are calling about a client, explain your role at the start of the conversation and tell us what you need. Please avoid sharing a client's personal details until it is clear that this is necessary, and that you have the authority to do so.
What we cannot do over the telephone
Knowing the limits of a call may save you some time, and it will help you judge what kind of conversation to expect.
- We cannot give legal, financial or therapeutic advice about your own circumstances.
- We cannot tell you what a court is likely to decide, or whether a court deadline applies.
- We cannot pass on messages to a former partner or speak on your behalf.
- We cannot guarantee that the other person will take part, or that mediation will suit you.
- We cannot treat a call as a confirmed appointment unless the details have been clearly agreed.
- We cannot take payment or documents through this website, because it has no facility to do so.
If something has not gone as you expected
If you were unhappy with a call, were unclear about something you were told, or were confused by a charge, please let us know by telephone on the same number.
It helps if you can explain what happened, roughly when it took place and what you would like to happen now. If your concern relates to a mediator or to mediation you have already taken part in, ask how concerns are handled and whether any professional body's procedure would apply. Raising a concern does not affect any legal rights you have.
You should also get in touch if you notice something on this website that looks wrong or out of date. Laws, procedures and practical arrangements change over time, and information here is general in nature. If it matters to a decision you are making, it is sensible to check the current position instead of relying on a web page.
If using the telephone is difficult for you
A telephone-only route does not suit everyone, and we do not want that to be what stops you asking a question.
Getting help with the call
If you have hearing or speech difficulties, you may be able to use a relay service, or ask a trusted person to place the call and stay with you. If English is not your first language, a friend can help you make the first contact, and you can then ask what interpreting support could be arranged for anything that follows.
Making the call manageable
Some people find phone calls stressful, especially about a subject like this. Writing down your first sentence can help, and so can asking for something to be repeated or saying you need a moment. You are welcome to explain at the start that calls are hard for you, and to ask what else could be arranged.
Keeping your own note of the call
It is easy to forget what you were told, especially if you were anxious at the time. A few lines written straight afterwards can save you from having to ask again.
Note the date, what you asked, what you were told about the next step and any figure or date that was mentioned. If something was left for you to do, write that down too. Keep your note somewhere private, particularly if you share a home or a device.
Quick answers about getting in touch
Is there an email address I can use?
We do not publish one. Please be cautious if you find an address elsewhere that claims to be ours, and do not send it anything sensitive. The telephone number on this page is the route to use.
Is there an office I can visit?
This website does not list a public address for callers. If a meeting is arranged, you will be told how and where it will take place. Please ring first rather than relying on an address found elsewhere.
What if nobody answers when I ring?
Please try again later. If the matter is urgent, do not wait for a call to be answered: use the emergency services where there is immediate danger, and seek legal advice if a deadline is approaching.
Do I need anything ready before I call?
Not really. A one-line description of the subject and any important dates will do. If you would like to prepare a little more, the Book Consultation page offers a short way of doing that.
We are one call away
Ask your question, take the answer away and think it over. Ringing us does not commit you to anything, and you will not be asked to decide on the spot.