Partner Article

Return to school increases need for service

Back-to-school signals more demand for North East unhappy couples’ dispute resolution organiation

As the region’s kids are firmly back in school, dispute resolution specialists in the region are getting ready for an upturn in demand as disillusioned couples start the painful process of separation, determined to avoid court room confrontation.

Experts at Impact Family Services based in Sunderland, South Shields and Scarborough cover the whole of the North East and North Yorkshire. They say their experience of recent years backs up brand new research which indicates family holidays are bad for strained relationships.

“Holidays often fail to live up to expectations, and that’s one reason we see an increase in demand for our specialist family mediators in September. When adults go back to work and the children start school, routine sets in, often after a disappointing summer,” says Hazel Hedley, CEO of Impact.

Research published in August by the University of Washington shows filings for divorce over the past 14 years rising seasonally, after the Christmas and summer vacation periods, peaking in spring and in September.

“We’ve long known the post-Christmas period provokes unhappy couples to move on, but our experience of recent years backs up the idea of a post-summer surge too,” adds Hazel.

“Our services have already this week experience an uplift in enquiries and we are bracing ourselves for a further uptake in demand in the coming weeks. Intense family time spent together puts huge pressure on all parties and when arguments and disagreements flair, its often spells the end of the relationship once routine is returned to.”

Impact Family Services is part of the National Family Mediation (NFM) network, the organisation behind the recent BBC2’s recent ground-breaking documentary series Mr v Mrs: Call The Mediator. NFM’s Chief Executive, Jane Robey, says it has been a year of rising demand for mediators, with the ‘traditional’ January spike being built on in June by the TV show.

“A key law change in 2014, making it compulsory for separating couples to consider mediation before they can apply for a court order, has helped raise awareness that there are alternative ways to settle disputes over parenting, property and money,” said Jane Robey.

“Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and together with the TV show and other factors, the message is getting through that family mediation is cheaper, quicker and less stressful than a court room battle with your ex.”

More information is available at www.impactfs.co.uk

Legal Aid for a mediated separation is still available.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Antonia Brindle .