As we begin 2025, we reflect on an incredible year at Wandsworth Mediation Service (WMS) – a twentieth year in our history. In 2024, we’ve grown our impact, launched innovative training, and continued earning national recognition. With our team of 63 volunteers and contractors, we have supported communities across London, the UK, and internationally. Here’s a snapshot of how we’ve made a difference last year.
Developing in-house training: 232 people trained
At WMS, our training programmes are designed and developed in-house to meet real-world needs. In 2024, we trained 232 people across 11 projects, both nationally and internationally. These included:
- School programmes in London and Surrey: working with five schools to deliver peer mediation training for primary students and our Reflect training for secondary students with behavioural challenges.
- Reducing Parental Conflict: CPD-accredited workshops equipping community organisations with skills to support parents in conflict.
- EDI training for a youth homelessness charity: helping mediators navigate faith, race, and cultural conflicts.
- International training: supporting clinical ethicists in Canada and training teams at an anti-slavery organisation.
- Conflict management workshops: delivered to local community groups, including a church and food bank.
Conflict resolution work: more people helped, with a 80% success rate for mediations
This year, we processed 246 conflict resolution enquiries, an 11% increase from 2023. Demand for our workplace and commercial mediation services nearly doubled.
- 40% of our 2024 referrals came from the local councils, the NHS, police, and community organisations.
- We signposted a quarter of enquiries to services like Citizens Advice and mental health support.
- Our average success rates for mediated cases remains high, with 80% mediations in 2024 reaching a full or partial resolution.
Our clients ranged from individuals to businesses, schools, and local organisations. Here’s what they said about our work:
- “The most robust and professional service in the industry.”
- “…enabled us to communicate reasonably with our neighbours.”
- “..incredibly useful in helping to improve my relationship and address issues with my father. We would not have been able to achieve this on our own.”
- “…supported both sides and allowed us to reach agreement on the day.”
Award-winning innovations
We were thrilled to be recognised with the Innovation Award at the National Mediation Awards 2024. It highlights our unique approach to conflict resolution and our commitment to constantly improving and expanding our services.
Gratitude for our supporters
This year, over 700 people directly benefited from our work. It has been made possible thanks to our volunteers and contractors, and our generous funders and sponsors, including The National Lottery Community Fund, The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators, Wandsworth Grant Fund, The BPS Foundation and Wimbledon Community Fund+.
We also extend our gratitude to the individual and corporate sponsors, such as Linklaters, a global law firm that generously supports our Reflect course at an East London school.
Looking ahead to 2025
We’re excited to build on 2024’s successes with plans to:
- Expand our new peer mediation programme: launching across London after its development last year.
- Train community organisations with skills to support parents in conflict: delivering free professional development courses for local groups, in partnership with local councils.
- Support secondary schools and PRUs: bringing Reflect training to more students across London and beyond.
- Deliver exceptional mediation services: continuing to provide high-quality conflict resolution services to more people, with the expertise of some of the best mediators in the country.
If you or your organisation would like to sponsor our work and help us create lasting change, please get in touch.
