Mediation – Three Sessions Concluding on 29/05/2025
Louise demonstrated exceptional professionalism while maintaining genuine compassion for our situation. From the outset, I felt extremely nervous, but Louise quickly put me at ease. Her calm, supportive approach created a safe and respectful environment where both of us felt heard and understood.
Throughout this challenging process, Louise’s communication was clear, sensitive, and consistent. Each of our three sessions was expertly managed, with a focus on helping us work collaboratively towards a mutual and realistic outcome for us and our children—something we had believed would be impossible to achieve.
I am deeply grateful for Louise’s guidance and would wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone navigating such a difficult and emotional time. I have no suggestions for improvement; her support exceeded all expectations.
Dear Louise,
I would just like to thank you for all of your help through this difficult process. I honestly don’t think we would have been able to reach any agreement without you.
Kind regards
My Experience with Mediation Milton Keynes has been Exceptional . I was assisted by Louise Carrington-Dye and
she was outstanding. She clearly has a wealth of experience in family Mediation and payed very close attention to
detail while addressing the situation from a neutral standpoint. She was very professional and genuinely cares about
what she is doing where children are concerned and where it is imperative the children’s wellbeing is the priority.
Further to this, she delt with my case during hours that suited me, going above and beyond as she made
arrangements around her personal life to enable me to get important things in motion, without delay.
The fees are more than reasonable in comparison to other companies and most importantly, I was left feeling
confident and calm about the standard of care that the case would be treated with. This is more than a job to these
guys.
Really appreciate your exemplary professionalism.
11/10.
“We were sceptical at first that mediation would work however; Louise encouraged me to continue with the process and I am so glad I did- there is always a way through and Louise showed me this- thank you – Client S (financial mediation)”
“Without Louise and Lloyd’s considerate and excellent support and guidance, I would still be in the middle of what was a scary and costly divorce- Clients ‘B’ (all issues mediation)”
“Thank you for all that you have done for us- Without your help, we would not have been able to navigate the stressful process of separating and our child would certainly not be as ‘grounded’ and happy as he is- Client K (child and financial mediation)”
“It was very helpful. I want to say thanks to our mediator.”
“….I would recommend that all couples in a situation like ours going through a divorce, especially with children, to at least give mediation a go….”
“Mediation was excellent. Unfortunately we made no progress, however the process was useful. The mediator showed a high level of commitment to resolving our issues.”
“I felt very dubious at the start of the whole process and didn’t think it could work for us. However, I am pleased to say that I was proved wrong! I would recommend that all couples in a situation like ours going through a divorce, especially if they have children, to at least give mediation services a go. Thank you!”
The MIAM is the first step in exploring whether mediation could be a helpful way forward for you and your family. It’s a confidential meeting—held virtually, in person, or by phone—with a qualified, impartial mediator.
During this appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to:
Please note: This meeting is just for you. The other person is not involved in this part. You are not committing to mediation by attending—it’s simply a chance to get the support and information you need.
Mediators remain completely impartial. We don’t take sides, and we don’t work for either person—we work with both of you to explore what’s best for you and your child(ren). It’s also important to understand that, just as you’ll have a chance to share your story, the other person will also have their own opportunity to be heard in a separate meeting.
Your appointment is tailored to you. It’s a safe space to:
to mediate in person or online;
If you’re in receipt of certain benefits, your MIAM appointment may be free of charge.
If you share Parental Responsibility with the other person, it’s important to know that:
This can understandably feel very concerning—especially if you’re worried about safety or stability for your child(ren).
If you have genuine concerns about your child’s wellbeing, or if you feel that your child may be at risk, you can apply to the court for a Child Arrangements Order. This can:
To apply for a court order, you will need to attend a MIAM with an accredited mediator first. From there, we can provide you with the signed form you need for your application.
Alternatively, if you’re not yet ready to proceed to court, we can talk through your concerns and explore support services that may help you and your child(ren). Mediation isn’t always the right answer—but having clarity can relieve some of the anxiety and uncertainty that many parents face during these difficult times.
All of our mediators are accredited family mediators ( or working towards).
I’m an accredited Family Mediator, Domestic Abuse Champion, and a Safeguarding Social Worker with a background in child protection. I’m here to support you with empathy, professionalism, and a deep understanding of the challenges families face.
As a company, we’ve been offering mediation and family support services for over 15 years. We’re proud to help people find their voice, whatever their circumstances—and whatever that voice needs to say.
You Must each attend a separate Mediation Assessment and Information Meeting (MIAM)
Before you are eligible for the voucher scheme- This is irrespective of whether you have
already attended a MIAM previously or with another service.
If you or the other parent/person are eligible for legal aid you both will qualify for a free MIAM
(with mediators that carry out legal aid work).
If neither of you are eligible for legal aid, you will have to pay for the MIAM.
Estimated fees may vary depending on your location and the experience of the mediator. Some
mediators offer reductions if you’re unemployed or on a low income.
Check if you might be eligible for legal aid
No, the use of the mediation voucher is restricted to assisting with funding of mediation
sessions only. You will have to pay for your MIAM first, unless you are eligible for legal aid.
On attendance of a MIAM, a trained mediator will assess the issues which you seek to resolve to
see if they are suitable for mediation and meet the eligibility requirements for the voucher
scheme.
Not all cases are eligible under the scheme. The case types specified below are eligible for a
mediation voucher:
• a dispute/application regarding a child
• a dispute/application regarding family financial matters where you are also involved in a
dispute/application relating to a child
It is important to remember that mediation is only an option when both people agree to take
part in it, so you and the other person will need to agree to mediate.
If you decide to proceed with mediation, and are eligible for the voucher, your mediator will
apply for the voucher funding and it will be paid directly to them once all mediation sessions are
concluded. You will not receive a physical voucher and you will not need to make an application
for it.
Vouchers are limited in number and will be offered to eligible parties until they are no longer
available. Your mediator will let you know if there are vouchers available.
You will be asked to confirm that you have:
• asked the mediator to apply for the voucher
• not already applied for another voucher as part of the same scheme
• given consent to your mediator providing your necessary information to the Family
Mediation Council. This includes your name, the bill for mediation services you receive
from the mediator and some basic information about your case.
You can only claim once per family/ case for a one-off contribution of up to £500 towards your
mediation costs.
If you have an application or dispute relating to a child and also have a financial issue
application or dispute ongoing at the same time, you can still only receive up to £500.
If you make a second application and have already received a voucher, you will not be offered a
second voucher under this scheme.
Please see below for general information however; the voucher will cover up to two
mediation sessions with our service.
This will depend on the rates set by your chosen mediator and how many mediation sessions
are required. The voucher is intended to be a contribution towards mediation sessions. Your
mediator will tell you their rates and how many sessions the voucher is likely to cover. As the
total value of the voucher is £500, you may need to contribute to the overall cost of your
sessions if you choose to continue with mediation.
Yes, if you are eligible for legal aid you can still be eligible for a voucher.
The mediation voucher scheme is a one-off financial contribution of up to £500 and will not
cover the cost of a MIAM. Legal aid will provide funding for the MIAM and all mediation sessions,
if you are eligible.
At your MIAM, your FMC accredited mediator will talk through your options (including whether
they are able to take on legal aid work).
More information about legal aid
Yes, the vouchers are allocated per case.
If one person in that case is eligible for legal aid, the other person can still apply for a voucher to
contribute toward their mediation costs. If the other person is eligible for legal aid but you are
not then you will also be entitled to legal aid funding which will cover the cost of the MIAM and
the first mediation session.
If your issues solely relate to a financial remedy dispute/application you will not be able to
obtain a voucher. However, if your issues relate to a child and to a financial remedy issue you
can obtain a voucher, subject to availability.
Data collection
You will also be asked to complete a short monitoring questionnaire. Completing this is
optional.
Your mediator will be required to provide some information about your case, such as whether
you reach an agreement and whether you ask the court to formalise an agreement. The data
provided will be anonymised before being used to provide information about the way in which
the voucher scheme and the mediation services were used.
At Mediation MK, our mediators and staff uphold the highest standards of professionalism, guided by the Family Mediation Council (FMC) Code of Practice (Revised 2024). This includes the core principle that: “The Mediator must act impartially in conducting any process of mediation and with integrity and fairness towards each of the Participants. The Mediator must also ensure that any conflicts of interest are identified, considered, and addressed.” We are committed to conducting ourselves with respect, openness, honesty, and clarity in all communications. We expect the same standard of conduct from all clients. In order to maintain a safe and constructive environment for all involved, we reserve the right to discontinue our professional relationship without refund should a client engage in behaviour that is disruptive, threatening, abusive, offensive, or designed to exert undue pressure on the mediator, our staff, or any other party. This includes the making of false allegations or any other conduct that compromises the integrity or safety of the mediation process.
I hope this helps clarify the MIAM process and what it might mean for you and Theo. If you’d like to talk things through further, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Warm regards,
Louise Carrington-Dye
Mediation Milton Keynes
tel: 07850 550552/0330 0434194
You cannot copy content of this page
