Clare PPN announces a new mediation service for community groups
Press Release: October 4th 2017
Clare PPN announces a new mediation service for community groups
Clare Public Participation Network is delighted to announce the launch of its mediation service which will be available to Community and Voluntary Groups in County Clare. October 7th – 14th is national Mediation Awareness Week in Ireland and Clare PPN wishes to draw communities’ attention to the fact that this useful method of resolving difficulties is now available to them in the county.
Mediation is a process where a trained, neutral ‘mediator’ helps people involved in disputes or disagreements to resolve them. The process is confidential and is only offered in situations where all parties to a dispute wish to engage in mediation. Over the spring and summer this year seven members of Clare PPN undertook an intensive training programme in mediation skills and completed their assessment successfully. These seven mediators who come from a range of backgrounds are now available to provide fully confidential mediation to member groups of Clare PPN.
Sharon Meaney of Clare Volunteer Centre who is one of the newly qualified mediators said ‘Undertaking this training was a great opportunity for us and for the whole community and voluntary sector in Clare. There are now seven people who are already involved in their own communities and groups who have a new skill and resource to contribute to the whole community.’
Marie Therese Carroll of Clare PPN’s Secretariat said ‘this project which is the first of its kind by any Public Participation Network is one which should provide a lasting benefit in the county. In rural areas people have always had to work together for progress and this is particularly relevant now when community groups are coming under pressure both from rural depopulation and from the increasing bureaucratic requirements they face in going about their work. Mediation is a tool that can help people to work together well and to sustain working relationships over the long term and will be a great advantage to any organisation or group that are experiencing difficulties or want help to see their way forward from a place of conflict.’
Each of the 7 mediators will be available for 2 sessions each per year and these sessions will be available free of charge to members of the PPN. The group that requires the mediation will be asked to pay the out of pocket expenses for the mediators who will work in pairs.
Inquiries about mediation or anything to do with Clare PPN can be directed to sarah@clareppn.ie or 087 1617375.
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Notes for editors:
Clare PPN is a network of community, voluntary, environmental and social inclusion groups from Clare. It exists to facilitate the formal participation by the community sector in Clare County Council’s decision making structures. It is funded jointly by the Department Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council but is autonomous and its activities are directed by its members through an elected secretariat.
Clare PPN’s website is www.clareppn.ie and they are on twitter @clare_ppn and https://facebook.com/clareppn/