The Family Mediation Trust

What The Family Mediation Trust does

The Family Mediation Trust is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee (charity no. 1041476; company no. 2975404) founded in 1982 as the Norfolk Family Mediation Service, delivering accredited family mediation across England and Wales. Its core product is Family Mediation — helping separating couples reach agreements on children, property, and finances without going to court — accessed via a compulsory MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) priced at £140. Adjacent services include Child Inclusive Mediation, Post Agreement Mediation, Inheritance Mediation, Parenting Coordination, the Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP), and Shuttle Mediation for high-conflict or domestic abuse cases. Delivery is omnichannel: face-to-face at hubs in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Essex, and Bedfordshire (headquarters Norwich, plus Cambridge and Peterborough offices), and online via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, WhatsApp, or telephone. The Trust also operates a Centre for Excellence sub-brand providing training, research, an annual conference, and Professional Practice Consultancy for trainee and accredited mediators.

The business model is a hybrid of public funding and private fees. As an accredited Legal Aid provider, the Trust receives Legal Aid Agency funding for income-eligible clients, administers the Ministry of Justice £500 mediation voucher scheme for child-related cases, and charges private-pay clients £210 per 90-minute session (or £135 for clients earning below the Real Living Wage threshold), with a 40% co-mediation uplift and £35 shuttle supplement. Payment is required at booking and all prices include VAT. The go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer acquisition (SEO, social media, word of mouth) with a professional referral channel from solicitors, courts, CAFCASS, Citizens Advice, and community legal services, supported by bilingual capacity in Spanish and German for cross-border cases. The organisation is recognised as Legal Aid Provider of the Year and operates a publicly committed WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standard across its digital properties.

Name

The Family Mediation Trust

Legal name

The Family Mediation Trust

Website

https://thefamilymediationtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Family Mediation Trust is a 42-year-old UK charity delivering accredited family mediation across England and Wales — helping separating couples, families in inheritance disputes, and parents arrange child contact via Legal Aid-funded, voucher-supported, and private-pay services delivered in person and online.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Family Mediation Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Family mediation services
• Legal aid mediation
• Child inclusive mediation
• Inheritance dispute mediation
• Mediator training consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwich

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Legal Aid Funding: The organization is a Legal Aid provider receiving funding from the Legal Aid Agency for eligible clients who qualify based on income and benefit status. This represents core funding for mediation services.
2. Client Fees (Private Pay): Private clients pay standard rates for MIAM (£140) and mediation sessions (£210 per session). Discounted rates of £135 are available for clients earning below the Real Living Wage threshold.
3. Ministry of Justice Voucher Scheme: Government-funded £500 vouchers administered by the organization for clients with child-related mediation cases. The Trust handles all administration. Vouchers can be combined with Legal Aid support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Family Mediation Trust provides accredited family mediation services to separating couples and families across England and Wales, helping them reach agreements on child arrangements, finances, and property without going to court. The portfolio includes MIAMs, standard mediation sessions, Child Inclusive Mediation, Post Agreement Mediation, Inheritance Mediation, and Shuttle Mediation, delivered in-person, online via video, or by telephone, with Legal Aid and Ministry of Justice £500 voucher support available.

Product overview

The Family Mediation Trust offers a portfolio of family mediation services centred on its core Family Mediation product, which helps separating couples reach agreements on children, finances, and property without going to court. The primary entry point is the MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting), followed by mediation sessions. Add-on modules include Child Inclusive Mediation (incorporating the child's voice), Post Agreement Mediation (for reviewing existing parenting plans), Inheritance Mediation (for will and probate disputes), and Parenting Coordination. A separate sub-brand, the Centre for Excellence, delivers training, research, and an annual conference for mediators. The Trust also provides Professional Practice Consultancy for trainee and accredited mediators, and a Structured Parenting Information Programme (SPIP). Mediation is available in-person, online via video platforms, or by telephone, with shuttle mediation as an option for cases requiring separation of parties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Family Mediation Core mediation service helping separating couples reach mutually acceptable agreements on children, property, and finances without going to court. Includes MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) as the required entry point for many court applications. Available to individuals across England and Wales.
• MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting) A short private meeting explaining mediation and options, checking whether mediation is safe and suitable, confirming Legal Aid eligibility, and helping clients decide next steps. Required before many family court applications. Priced at £140 per session including VAT.
• Child Inclusive Mediation Family mediation that incorporates the child's voice to enable inclusive, effective agreements and resolution. Priced at £75 per child session. Aimed at parents seeking child-focused outcomes post-separation.
• Post Agreement Mediation (PAM) Helps separated parents review and improve existing parenting agreements through structured family mediation. Targeted at families needing to update arrangements as circumstances change.
• Inheritance Mediation Explores options for achieving a satisfactory settlement when a loved one dies and there is a dispute over a will or inheritance. Targets family members dealing with contentious probate, executor disagreements, and grief-related conflict.
• Professional Referral to Mediation
• Centre for Excellence
• Professional Practice Consultancy
• Separated Parents Information Programme (SPIP)
• Online and Video Mediation
• Shuttle Mediation
• Parenting Coordination

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% positive outcomes from mediation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• End Child PovertyminorOthersCoalition organization working to end child poverty. Partnership supports the organization's mission to provide accessible family mediation services.
• Awards For All (National Lottery)minorOthersNational Lottery funding program supporting community organizations. Partnership provides funding support for mediation services.
• College of MediatorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body for mediators providing accreditation standards and professional development frameworks that the Trust adheres to.
• Cambridge Citizens Advice BureauminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner providing advice services to clients who may benefit from mediation. Located in Cambridge area.
• NCAN (Norfolk Community Advisory Network)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal community network providing referral pathways for families needing mediation services in Norfolk.
• Family Mediation CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegulatory body for family mediation in the UK setting standards for accreditation that Trust mediators hold.
• NCMLS (Norfolk Community Law Service)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLegal advice organization providing referral pathway for clients seeking mediation services.
• ARU Law ClinicminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAnglia Ruskin University law clinic providing legal support and referral pathways for mediation clients.
• Living Wage FoundationminorOthersOrganization certifying real living wage employers. Trust demonstrates commitment to fair pay for staff.
• CAFCASScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren and Family Court Advisory and Support Service works with families in court proceedings. Trust is trusted by CAFCASS for mediation referrals.
• Flourish PledgeminorOthersWorkplace wellbeing commitment. Trust participates in employer wellbeing initiatives.
• Menopause Workplace PledgeminorOthersInitiative supporting women experiencing menopause in the workplace. Trust is a signatory demonstrating commitment to staff wellbeing.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Citizens Advice: UK advice charity that refers clients into mediation services and is listed as a referral partner of the Trust. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem participant in the family-dispute advice funnel.
• CAFCASS: Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service, which represents children's interests in family court proceedings and is a strategic referral partner of the Trust. Comparable as a publicly-funded family-services body but with court-facing, not mediation, mandate.

Emerging players

• Amicable: Online-first divorce and mediation service targeting separating couples with a digital journey. Competes on convenience and price in the same end market but with a technology-led model that overlaps with the Trust's online/video delivery channel.

Broad incumbents

• Resolution: UK membership organisation for family lawyers and mediators, with 6,500+ members. Comparable in its emphasis on constructive, non-court resolution and accreditation of family justice professionals, but operates as a professional body rather than a service provider.

Direct peers

• National Family Mediation (NFM): The largest UK family mediation charity, providing accredited mediators, Legal Aid, and MIAM services nationally. Directly comparable in mission, accreditation, funding model, and target customer (separating couples across England and Wales).
• Talem Family Mediation: Family mediation and family law firm offering MIAMs and mediation sessions. Comparable in service portfolio (MIAM, mediation, Legal Aid eligibility) and consumer-facing delivery model.
• MiQuest Mediation: A UK family mediation provider offering accredited, Legal Aid-funded mediation in person and online. Comparable in service mix, accreditation standards, and reliance on Legal Aid funding for the separating-couples segment.

Regional players

• Relationship Scotland: Scotland's family mediation network, offering mediation and related family support. Comparable in charity structure, accredited mediator pool, and government-funded service model, but operates in a separate jurisdiction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheFamilyMediationTrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mediationtrust

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Family Mediation Trust