National Family Mediation
National Family Mediation is a UK charity founded in 1982 operating the largest network of family mediation services in England and Wales, helping separating couples resolve disputes over children, finances, and property across 500+ locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersExeter, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What National Family Mediation does
National Family Mediation (NFM) is a registered UK charity (Charity Number 1074796) founded in 1982 and headquartered in Exeter, England. It is the original and largest provider of family mediation services in England and Wales, operating a network of over 500 mediation locations and delivering approximately 16,000 mediation sessions annually. NFM helps separating and divorcing families resolve disputes over children, finances, and property without going to court, serving individual consumers including couples with children, grandparents, and civil partnership dissolutions, as well as organisational clients through training programmes.
NFM's service portfolio includes Mediation Information and Assessment Meetings (MIAM), family mediation for child and financial matters, Child-Inclusive Mediation that involves children's perspectives, and NFM LegalEyes, an exclusive integrated legal services offering combining mediation with panel solicitor advice. Operational technology consists of a service-based platform with video conferencing for remote sessions, a case management system, a website chatbot for initial enquiries, and online booking. The charity also operates the Planning Together for Children programme and a specialised Homes for Ukraine Mediation service.
Revenue is generated through four streams: client-paid mediation fees (typically under £1,000 per case versus £15,000 average court costs), the Ministry of Justice's Family Mediation Voucher Scheme (£500 per voucher), legal aid processed through the Legal Aid Agency, and paid training courses for aspiring and existing mediators. Distribution combines direct consumer channels (national helpline 0300 4000 636, website booking, email) with referral channels (solicitors, courts, CAFCASS, Children's Services) and the 500+ location local network. The Ministry of Justice is a key funding partner, with £5.4 million allocated for 10,200 vouchers extended to March 2027.
National Family Mediation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- National Family Mediation
- Legal name
- National Family Mediation
- Website
- https://nfm.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- National Family Mediation is a UK charity founded in 1982 operating the largest network of family mediation services in England and Wales, helping separating couples resolve disputes over children, finances, and property across 500+ locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
National Family Mediation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Family Mediation Services
- NAICS
- Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Legal Services (54119)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mediation, Negotiation Support & Peace Processes (BPADAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC), Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)
Keywords
Where National Family Mediation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Exeter
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
National Family Mediation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Client-paid Mediation Fees: Fees charged to clients for family mediation services covering children, finance, and property matters. Pricing varies based on case complexity.
- Government Voucher Scheme: Government-funded Family Mediation Voucher Scheme providing up to £500 towards mediation costs for separating families with children.
- Legal Aid: Legally aided mediation available for eligible families on low incomes, funded through the legal aid scheme.
- Training Courses: Family mediator training courses including foundation training, CPD for existing mediators, and training for organisations. Fees include materials, face-to-face delivery, and assessments.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Government Voucher Scheme covers up to £500 of mediation costs for families with children |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Legal Aid for eligible low-income families |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Foundation Training Course for aspiring mediators |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
National Family Mediation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
National Family Mediation delivers family mediation services to help separating and divorcing families resolve disputes over children, finances, and property without going to court. Operating through a network of over 500 locations across England and Wales, NFM conducts approximately 16,000 mediation sessions per year, complemented by integrated legal advice (NFM LegalEyes), government-funded voucher scheme delivery, legal aid processing, and accredited mediator training courses.
Product overview
National Family Mediation (NFM) operates as a network of not-for-profit family mediation providers established in 1982, offering family mediation services across over 500 locations in England and Wales, delivering approximately 16,000 mediation sessions annually. The core product is Family Mediation Services, which helps divorcing or separating families resolve disputes over children, finances, and property. NFM LegalEyes provides integrated legal solutions, while Child-Inclusive Mediation and MIAM assessments are key service components. The portfolio includes government-supported offerings (Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, Legal Aid), professional training programmes for mediators, and specialised services such as Planning Together for Children and Homes for Ukraine Mediation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- NFM LegalEyes: A service offering that provides high-quality legal advice and legal services at an affordable cost, exclusive to National Family Mediation, allowing clients to access shared legal advice during divorce or separation.
Products and services
- Family Mediation Services Helps families in conflict, especially those divorcing or separating, to resolve disputes over children, finances, and property in over 500 locations across England and Wales.
- NFM LegalEyes (Mediation + Legal Solutions) Exclusive service providing access to high-quality legal advice and legal services at an affordable cost during divorce or separation, without compromising quality or fairness of outcomes.
- Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) Initial meeting providing information about mediation and assessing whether mediation is suitable for the family's situation before formal mediation begins.
- Finance and Property Mediation Mediation focused specifically on resolving financial disputes and property division matters during separation or divorce.
- Family Mediation Voucher Scheme Government-funded voucher scheme providing up to £500 towards mediation costs for separating families with children to help make parenting arrangements through mediation.
- Legal Aid for Mediation Legal aid funding available for eligible families to help cover the costs of family mediation services, administered through the Legal Aid Agency.
- Family Mediator Training Course Professional training programme for individuals seeking to become accredited family mediators, including Foundation Training courses meeting Family Mediation Council requirements, with materials, face-to-face delivery, and assessments.
- Homes for Ukraine Mediation Free mediation service specifically designed to help Ukrainian refugees and their hosts resolve any conflicts or disputes under the Homes for Ukraine scheme.
- Mediation for Civil Partnerships Mediation services to help couples ending civil partnerships resolve disputes over children, finances, and property, using the same process as divorce mediation.
- Child-Inclusive Mediation Mediation approach that involves children directly in the process, allowing their voices to be heard when parents are making decisions about arrangements.
Quantifiable outcome
- 83% agreement rate for families going into mediation
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use National Family Mediation
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
National Family Mediation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
National Family Mediation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Family Mediation CouncilcoreRegulatory body for family mediators in the UK. Sets standards for mediator training and accreditation. Oversees complaints about mediators through a separate review process after NFM's complaints procedure has concluded. NFM mediators must meet FMC accreditation requirements.
- NFM LegalEyes Panel SolicitorscorePanel of qualified solicitors providing legal advice services exclusively to NFM mediation clients. Helps formalise mediated agreements through consent orders, ensuring legal standards are met before court submission. Keeps legal costs controlled while ensuring fair and legally binding outcomes.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
National Family Mediation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Hello Divorce: UK online divorce and family law service offering fixed-fee mediation and lawyer support. Targets the same separating-couple persona as NFM but with a more digital product experience.
- Divorce-Online: Online DIY divorce service in the UK with a mediation arm, targeting cost-conscious separating couples. Comparable customer segment (separating families) and competing on price and convenience; represents the self-serve end of the spectrum NFM competes against.
Direct peers
- amicable: Online divorce and mediation service in the UK offering a digital-first alternative to traditional family mediation. Directly comparable product (mediation for separating couples), customer segment, and value proposition (cheaper, faster than court).
- Resolution: UK membership body for family law professionals promoting constructive, non-court resolution of family disputes. Closely comparable mission (reducing family conflict) and overlapping member/audience of family lawyers and mediators in England and Wales.
Broad incumbents
- Co-op Legal Services:
- Irwin Mitchell: Major UK law firm with a sizeable family law team offering mediation alongside litigation. Comparable end-customer (separating families with children, finances, property) but operates as a broader full-service law firm rather than a mediation specialist.
- Slater and Gordon Lawyers: Large UK law firm with a substantial family law practice including mediation services. Offers overlapping capabilities as part of a wider legal portfolio, providing an established alternative for families considering mediation or full legal representation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
National Family Mediation social profiles
Digital presenceNational Family Mediation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
National Family Mediation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
National Family Mediation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
National Family Mediation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
National Family Mediation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about National Family Mediation
What does National Family Mediation do?
National Family Mediation delivers family mediation services to help separating and divorcing families resolve disputes over children, finances, and property without going to court. Operating through a network of over 500 locations across England and Wales, NFM conducts approximately 16,000 mediation sessions per year, complemented by integrated legal advice (NFM LegalEyes), government-funded voucher scheme delivery, legal aid processing, and accredited mediator training courses.
Is National Family Mediation a public or private company?
National Family Mediation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was National Family Mediation founded?
National Family Mediation was founded in 1982. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is National Family Mediation based?
National Family Mediation is headquartered in Exeter, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does National Family Mediation make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Client-paid Mediation Fees are the primary driver. The others are government Voucher Scheme, legal Aid and training Courses.
Who are National Family Mediation's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Hello Divorce and Divorce-Online. Direct peers are amicable and Resolution. Broad incumbents are Co-op Legal Services, Irwin Mitchell and Slater and Gordon Lawyers.
Does National Family Mediation have an API?
No public API is recorded for National Family Mediation.
What industry is National Family Mediation in?
National Family Mediation's product category is Family Mediation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAFAC, Mediation, Negotiation Support & Peace Processes, with a secondary code of BPAGAEAC, Family & Parenting Support Services. Its NAICS code is 624190 and its SIC code is 8300.