Dr LESLEY ALLPORT

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Training to be a mediator is the start of an exciting and adventurous journey. There will be skills that you bring and make good use of on the course. However, while mediation draws on a wide range of disciplines, it is a unique practice. This training will present you with new challenges, taking you into ‘familiar ground but unknown territory’. LADR Foundation Training is designed to support you through that. It gives you first of all, an understanding of conflict, where it comes from and ways that it can be approached, before thinking about how mediation is used as a tool that is distinct from other approaches. The course then builds your skills incrementally so that you gain confidence and ability to deal with complexity.

LADR training is modular in its approach in order to allow participants the opportunity to practice and develop skills alongside participation in the taught course and to build links between theory and practice. It combines delivery of theoretical material and relevant knowledge with skills development through structured role play in a ‘safe’ setting. 

The  Introduction to Mediation Programme consists of six days spread over two modules. The first two days give an overview of mediation and the subsequent four days provide a generic training in mediation theory and practice. This can be undertaken as a stand alone course for those wishing to mediate workplace or community disputes, or who wish, for example, to extend their existing coaching or counselling skills to be able to offer mediation. 

The Family Specialism consists of a further two modules which focus especially on the skills and knowledge required to work as a family mediator and meet the requirements of both the College of Mediators and the Family Mediation Council. 

In order to be able to register and subsequently qualify as a family mediator you either need to complete both of these programmes or, if you have you have prior training and experience in another field of mediation, you need to complete the two day overview and then undertake the Family Specialism.  (8 day Fast-track - see below)

 The Introduction to Mediation is appropriate for those who are new to mediation, or for those who assist people to have difficult conversations who would like to put more structure to their work. It is an initial, generic programme which covers the process and principles of mediation and supports participants to develop the key skills of a mediator.  The training is 40 hours in length and equips successful candidates to mediate in workplace and neighbour disputes, conflicts in local settings and some education disputes. It can provide an additional skill for professionals already working with people in fields such as counselling, coaching, therapy or employee relationships. 

The course consists of 6 taught days divided into two modules. Delegates are also required to submit written assignmens. The components  of the course are therefore:

• Six taught days (40 hours) 
• Assessed role play on Day 6
• Self study component (5 hours) including the submission of three written assignments 
• Trainee Manual which includes information about mediation process, principles, values, skills and underlying theory.

Successful candidates are entitled to join the College of Mediators as a Trained Mediator.

The training will take place in central Birmingham within easy reach of Birmingham New St. 

The cost in 2026 is £1,200 including refreshments and lunches (there is no VAT to add). A deposit of £500 is required to secure a place the programme. 

Training as a family mediator requires additional contextual knowledge as well as training in aspects of the process that are unique to this setting. Participants undertaking The Family Mediation Specialism must either have completed the Introduction to Mediation or, where they have successfully attended a recognised mediation foundation programme in another context, attend the first two days of the Introduction. This course is suitable therefore, for mediators who are already working in another context and asumes a level of skill and understanding of mediation and the role of a mediator.

The components of the Family Sepcialism are therefore:

• Six taught days (40 hours)
• Skills development via a series of different role play scenarios
• Self-study component (approximately 10 hours), including the submission of four written assignments
• Trainee Manual to include infornation specific to family mediation practice including the impact of separation and divorce on families together with a legal knowledge component.

This training is approved by the College of Mediators and the Family Mediation Council. Successful delegates are entitled to join a Member Organisation and  register with the Family Mediation Council.

The training will take place in central Birmingham within easy reach of Birmingham New St. 

The cost in 2026 is £1,300 including refreshments and lunches  (there is no VAT to add). A deposit of £500 is required to secure a place the programme.

There is a further, stand-alone day in addition to the taught days where participants will be assessed on the demonstration of key mediation skills through role play. The day will take place shortly after the programme has been completed and an external assessor will be in attendance. It is expected that most participants will attend the assessment day soon after their programme finishes, however, there will be an option to attend a day later in the year if the delegate and / or the trainer feel they need to develop their skills further.

The assessment will take place at the same venue in central Birmingham.

The cost in 2026 is £250 including refreshments and lunches (there is no VAT to add).

The fast track course is appropriate for trained, experienced mediators who wish to extend their knowledge and skills to include family mediation. It assumes prior experience of mediation and the role of the mediator and begins with a 2-day overview to familiarise with the model used. In line with the requirements of teh Family Mediation Council, the components of the fact track Family Specialism are as follows:

• Eight taught day (60 hours)
• Skills development via a series of different role play scenarios
• Self-study component (approximately 10 hours), including the submission of four written assignments
• Trainee Manual to include infornation specific to family mediation practice including the impact of separation and divorce on families together with a legal knowledge component.

The training will take place in central Birmingham within easy reach of Birmingham New St. 

The cost in 2026 is £1,980 including refreshments and lunches  (there is no VAT to add).  A deposit of £500 is required to secure a place the programme. 

Assessment:  The assessment for the fast-track course is also held on a separate stand-alone basis. Please see the paragraph above for details.