Mediation for young people
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. This page applies to England only. Get advice relating to Scotland
This section looks at how mediation can help if you are a young person and you are having problems with your parents.
How can mediation help?
If you are a young person, and you live with your parents (or other relatives or carers), you will probably not always see eye to eye. If you can't sort out the problems, mediation might help. A mediator is an independent person who will help you to talk honestly with eachother to help you sort out your problems. They won't make judgements about who is in the right, or tell you what to do.
Sometimes, things may get so bad they could lead to you leaving home or being kicked out. If this is the case, mediation may be able to help you to sort things out so that you can continue to live with them - or go back home if you have already left. You could return home either permanently, or temporarily while you look for somewhere else.
Even if mediation does not lead to you moving back home, it can help you to get back on good terms with your parents or carers.
When is mediation not appropriate?
Mediation will not normally be appropriate if:
- someone in your home has been violent or abusive towards you - if this is the case, tell the council about this before they contact your parents or carers.
- you or your parents do not agree to mediation
- the problems that led to you leaving home are not relationship problems - for example if you have been asked to leave because there is not enough room for you.
Can't I just apply as homeless?
If you have approached the council for help because you have left home or been kicked out, the council will normally suggest mediation. Be sure to tell them if there is any reason why you do not want to return home - eg. if you are worried about violence or abuse there.
If there are no problems like this, someone from the council will usually contact your parents to ask if they will agree to mediation, and, if so, whether they will allow you to return home while mediation is attempted.
If your parents or carers agree to mediation, but won't allow you to return home until afterwards, the council may have to house you while the mediation is taking place. Use our free online assessment to find out if this applies to you.
How do I get mediation?
Sometimes the council will have its own mediation service, or sometimes it will ask an independent organisation to do the mediation.
If you want to look into mediation yourself, you can search the Intermedial UK Mediation Directory or contact Relate, National Family Mediation, or the UK College of Family Mediators.
