Family Mediation Vouchers: How They Can Help You Move Forward

If you’re separating or divorcing and worrying about costs, especially where children are involved, you may be wondering whether the family mediation voucher scheme could help.

The good news is: they often can.

The Family Mediation Voucher Scheme gives you the opportunity to reduce the cost of mediation and focus on reaching practical, child-focused agreements without going to court.

So let’s look at how it works.​

What Is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?

To begin with, the government introduced the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme to help families resolve issues outside of court.

Instead of pushing people straight into legal proceedings, the scheme supports you in working things out together through family mediation – with financial help to make that possible.

This means in practice that, if you qualify, you can receive up to £500 towards the cost of mediation.

How Much Support Can You Receive Through the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme?

If your application is approved, the scheme contributes up to £500 per case.

The voucher:

• Goes directly towards mediation fees

• Reduces what you and the other person need to pay

• Applies only to mediation sessions

Importantly, there are no financial eligibility checks and you do not need to meet any income thresholds to qualify.

Who Can Use a Family Mediation Scheme Voucher?

You can access the scheme if:

• You need to discuss arrangements involving children

• You have both attended a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting)

• Mediation is suitable for your situation

• Funding remains available at the time of application

However, you don’t need to complete any application forms yourself.

Once you both attend your MIAMs, your mediator applies for the voucher on your behalf if you decide to proceed.

What Does the Family Mediation Scheme Voucher Cover?

You can use the voucher to help pay for:

• Joint mediation sessions

• Discussions about child arrangements

• Parenting plans and ongoing arrangements

• Housing for children

• Financial arangements for children

However, the voucher does not cover:

• Legal advice

• Court applications

• Consent orders

• Work outside the mediation process

Is the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme Guaranteed?

No – and it’s important to be aware of this.

The scheme operates with limited funding, which means availability can change.

In practice:

• Approval depends on funds being available at the time

• There is no automatic entitlement

• Acting sooner rather than later improves your chances

However, at the time of writing, funding is still available, but this can change quickly.

Why Consider Family Mediation (With or Without a Family Mediation Scheme Voucher)?

Family mediation gives you a structured way to move forward without the stress, delay, and cost of court.

This means that, with a voucher in place, it becomes even more accessible.

Through mediation, you can:

• Stay in control of decisions

• Focus on practical, workable solutions

• Reduce conflict and tension

• Keep discussions centred on your children

• Move forward step by step, at your own pace

Ultimately, many clients say mediation helps them feel clearer, calmer, and more confident about what comes next.

What Should You Do Next?

So, if you want to explore whether a family mediation scheme voucher could apply to you, the next step is simple.  Arrange a MIAM (Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting).

At that meeting, you can ask questions, explore your options and make a decision as to whether family mediation is the right next step for you.

Once you have both attended a mediation information and assessment meeting, iff you both decide to proceed, I will check availability and apply for the voucher on your behalf.

Importantly, you are not committing to mediation by attending a MIAM.

You are simply taking the first step to understand your options.

Where Can You Find More Information?

You can read the official guidance on the scheme via the following link:  Family Mediation Vouchers Information

A Final Thought

You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin.

The truth is that most people start this process feeling uncertain, overwhelmed, or worried about making the wrong decision. That’s completely normal.

You can take this one step at a time – and the first step is simply finding out what support is available to you.

If cost is already worrying you

If you are separating and already feel anxious about:

• How much this is going to cost

• How long it will take

• And how much emotional energy it will consume

That is a natural concern.  Many people start this process feeling unsure about costs and whether mediation is truly more affordable than using solicitors.

If that’s something you’re weighing up, you may find it helpful to read my article: Is mediation cheaper than using solicitors? The real cost of sorting out separation

This explains how costs compare in practice, and why many people choose mediation as a more manageable option.

If you are still unsure, a Mediation Information & Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is often a sensible, proportionate first step.  My article explains more about MIAMs here:  What Is a MIAM?

A MIAM allows you to:

• Understand your options

• Get a clearer picture of the likely paths forward

• And make an informed decision about how you want to proceed

TO START THE PROCESS, PLEASE CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO COMPLETE YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE – WE WILL THEN CONTACT YOU.