National Family Mediation

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.

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

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

• Family mediation services
• Divorce mediation
• Child-inclusive mediation
• Legal aid mediation
• Mediator training

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Client-paid Mediation Fees: Fees charged to clients for family mediation services covering children, finance, and property matters. Pricing varies based on case complexity.
2. Government Voucher Scheme: Government-funded Family Mediation Voucher Scheme providing up to £500 towards mediation costs for separating families with children.
3. Legal Aid: Legally aided mediation available for eligible families on low incomes, funded through the legal aid scheme.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Family Mediation CouncilcoreOthersRegulatory 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 SolicitorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPanel 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

Emerging 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

• Xx.com/NatFamMediation
• Facebookfacebook.com/natfammediation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-family-mediation-service-ltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalfamilymediation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Family Mediation