New mediation service launched in Guernsey

Monday 07 January 2019

Guernsey's former Director of Education, Alan Brown has launched a mediation business in the island, which is already providing services here, as well as in Jersey and in the U.K.

Mr Brown enjoyed a career in education for more than 33 years, both in England and in Guernsey, working in both mainstream and special schools, for local authority support services and as a civil servant.

Through his varied roles he said he was involved in counselling, coaching and conflict resolution for many years and has therefore developed "the comprehensive and highly effective skills and personal qualities, required for successful mediation."

Mr Brown is also offering leadership coaching to teams and individuals and training in conflict resolution to organisations.

Mediation is known to be a highly successful process and can be used to resolve conflict and settle disputes - Mr Brown said that through mediation participants save time and money by avoiding protracted legal processes which may not bring a satisfactory outcome. A solution is usually reached in one day.

"Mediation can provide certainty and peace of mind and reduce the stress that a lengthy and expensive formal or legal process may cause", he said. "Participants are in control with a mediator facilitating a settlement or way forward, agreeable to all participants.

"Mediation works well in civil and  commercial disputes and is also very successful in resolving conflict in the workplace and the community. A study by East Sussex County Council showed that a grievance taken to Board level and appeal cost £0.5Million. Therefore mediation is a very cost effective route to take. It is estimated by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution that British business saves around £3Billion annually through using mediation."

However, Mr Brown said that mediation as a process to settle civil or commercial disputes or resolve workplace conflict seems to be underused in Guernsey. With proven effectiveness (around 89% settle) and significant benefits to individuals and organisations, he is sure that with increased recognition the use of mediation will grow at least to levels currently seen in the U.K.

Mr Brown is a registered mediator for Workplace, Civil and Commercial Mediation with the Civil Mediation Council and is also a member of the Society of Mediators.

Pictured top: Alan Brown.