for people interested in mediation in Scotland
M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S Y O U R S O L U T I O N
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E:
Planning for a Dispute Resolution
Centre in Scotland 01
Good Neighbour Winners in Dundee
and Angus 02
Scottish Mediation Register Survey 02
Viewpoint: Copenhagen Reflections 03
Job Opportunities 04
Training 04–06
Events 07
C O N T R I B U T E T O C O L L A B O R AT E
SMN publishes Collaborate regularly, and
we encourage you to contribute.
For submission guidelines contact Toni Freitas
at: collaborate@scottishmediation.org.uk.
The submission deadline for the next issue is:
Friday 19 March 2010.
The Scottish Mediation Network has as
its purpose the promotion of mediation
of all forms in Scotland. We believe that
mediation is an underused option. SMN’s
longer-term vision is to embed mediation
in to the way conflicts of all kinds are
resolved in Scotland.
News from the Scottish Mediation Network, registered Scottish Charity Number SC034921
Planning for a Dispute Resolution
Centre in Scotland
SMN has been participating in a Scottish
Government sponsored steering group to
develop a plan to promote Scotland as a centre
for high quality dispute resolution. The aim
would be to increase the use of commercial
dispute resolution by companies, organisations
and individuals from other countries either by
coming to Scotland or by using the services of
Scottish providers in other countries. Examples
exist of arbitration and mediation centres
outside of Scotland in London, Sweden, Paris,
Belgium, and Switzerland and political support
exists for building on the Scottish experience
in this area.
In its election manifesto, the SNP stated that:
“As world trade continues to expand, there
will be increasing demand for high quality
arbitration services as the preferred method
to resolve cross-border commercial disputes.
Scotland, with its international reputation in
finance and law, is ideally placed to of-
fer world-class arbitration services. With
arbitration offering greater flexibility and
lower cost than traditional legal processes,
an international arbitration service in
Edinburgh would be well placed to attract
SMN regularly accepts articles from guest writers to be included in Collaborate.
Email for submission guidelines.
Place your advert here! If you have an event, training session, or job opportunity that
you would like to advertise to Collaborate readers, then please email us for submission
guidelines.
FEBRUARY 2010 ISSUE 59
a significant share of this growing market.
In government we will work with Scotland’s
legal community to take forward plans to
create a Scottish international arbitration
centre.”
A Dispute Resolution Centre steering group
was subsequently set up to consider how to
take the initiative forward and has agreed that
the DRC would encompass other forms of
dispute resolution services including mediation.
It has also been agreed that the DRC should,
at least initially, be a virtual (online) service
bringing together—signposting to everything
that Scotland has to offer in this area.
The Government has made it clear that funding
and resources to establish such a Centre
should be sought from those who can expect to
benefit financially once the Centre is created.
As a first step the Steering Group is looking to
develop a marketing plan to ascertain interest
in the initiative. SMN will keep Collaborate
readers up to date with the proposals as
they develop and in the meantime any reader
who may be interested in being involved in
this project can contact SMN’s David Adam
david@scottishmediation.org.uk.
for people interested in mediation in Scotland
Good Neighbour Winners in Dundee and Angus
Dundee and Angus Community Mediation, the
neighbour dispute resolution services, chose
the winners of their “Good Neighbour” awards in
December. Nominations for good neighbours
in the Dundee area were received at an
information stand run by the service at the
Wellgate Centre and nominations for Angus
were received at an information stand run by
the service at the Abbeygate Centre, Arbroath
during Scottish Mediation Week in November
2009.
Chris and Dawn Mands were selected by the
Dundee and Angus Community Mediation
Advisory Group from among several good
neighbours put forward for the award, and were
presented with a Christmas hamper supplied
by Smithies Delicatessen of Arbroath.
Neighbour Mrs Pat Dobson, who nominated
the couple, has many examples of their good
deeds, as she explained: “Since my husband
became severely disabled after a stroke in
October 2008, this young couple have done
many things for us. Grass cutting, bins in and
(from left) Bob Ballantine, Dundee and Angus Community Mediation; Pattie Smith, Smithies Delicatessen; Elizabeth Ferris,
who nominated the award winners; and Good Neighbour award winners Alistair and Helen Wylie with their Christmas hamper.
FEBRUARY 2010 ISSUE 59
out, replacing high light fittings and reaching
a loft ladder. They also recommended a
blacksmith and landscape gardener for works
outside the house.”
Alistair and Helen Wylie of Carnoustie were
selected by the Advisory Group for the Angus
area and also received a Christmas hamper
supplied by Smithies Delicatessen of Arbroath.
Neighbour Mrs Elizabeth Ferris, who nominated
the couple, describes them as “excellent n
eighbours”. Examples of the many good deeds
the Wylies have done include regularly watering
her vegetables and sorting out her mail when
she is away, having a meal waiting for her
return on occasions and doing electrical work
in the house.
Mediation service team leader Bob Ballantine
said: “We were delighted to be able to present
these prizes to Dawn and Chris and Alistair
and Helen. They are to be commended for all
the help they have given their neighbours and
have set an excellent example for us all.”
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M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S YO U R S O L U T I O N
He also added: “This was not an easy decision
to make, as we were made aware of quite a
few examples of people going out of their way
to help their neighbours in various ways. We
wrote to everyone nominated, congratulating
them on their kindness.”
Dundee and Angus Community Mediation
services are managed by Sacro in partner-
ship with Dundee City and Angus Councils.
The service offers mediation free at the point
of delivery to all residents, irrespective of
housing tenure. For further information about
the award, please contact Bob Ballantine on
01382 459252, e-mail: bballantine@dundee.
sacro.org.uk
Scottish
Mediation
Register Survey
The SMR was launched in September
2007 as a benchmark standard for
mediators across all spheres of
mediation. The Scottish Mediation
Network would like your help in
shaping the future of the Scottish
Mediation Register.
If you aren’t already on the Scottish
Mediation Register then we would
like your feedback, by clicking here
to completing this short survey.
We would like to thank those that
have already taken part and ask that
if you haven’t already, please take a
couple of minutes to help us better
serve the mediation community.
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W W W. SCOT T I S H M E D I AT I O N .O RG .U K
for people interested in mediation in Scotland
VIEWPOINT: Copenhagen Reflections
By John Sturrock
I was privileged to be in Copenhagen for the
climate change conference in December
last year, firstly, for the two-day conference
arranged by Mediators Beyond Borders and
the Nordic Mediators Group, and, secondly,
to facilitate a day programme hosted by the
Scottish Government to showcase its Low
Carbon emission delivery plan. Both were
ambitious and rewarding but we know that
the overall outcome of the conference was a
disappointment to most.
In the aftermath of a monumental event
like this, it is easy to be dismissive of what
happened and of the failure to achieve even a
limited binding agreement and either to give up
hope - or to hope that things are not as bad as
they seem anyway.
None of these responses is likely to be
appropriate. The climate situation is very serious
indeed. The conference brought that home to
many of us. The lives of hundreds of millions
of our fellow human beings are at risk. As
mediators, we learn to persevere, often against
all the odds. We also know that people find it
difficult to change, to break long-standing
habits and to employ new ways of dealing with
difficult situations. Copenhagen teaches us
that what we see at the micro-level applies just
as much at the international level. What do we
learn from it?
FEBRUARY 2010 ISSUE 59
• that properly managed discussions, with
skilled facilitation where appropriate, are
more likely to lead to success in complex
negotiations than a conference-style free-
for-all, however well intentioned, where the
principal purpose is to set out your position;
• that skilled negotiation is difficult, especially
where there are vested interests, feelings
of threat, secret meetings, positional power
plays and reluctance to take a lead in
making concessions;
• that positional bargaining with its tendency
to antagonism and polarisation will not
solve this global issue;
• that finding sufficiently common global
interests to overcome national drivers is
a seriously challenging process and may
take years;
• that mediation offers a critically important
set of skills which may yet help to break the
logjam.
The Accord which was agreed at the end of
the conference proposes that the host country
of the next conference (Mexico) undertakes
inclusive and transparent consultations in order
to identify the most efficient negotiating process
for the success of the next conference.
This could be critical. If a more effective
negotiating process can be utilised, the potential
for a breakthrough will be much greater. There
is much for our global mediation community to
do to help influence that change.
John Sturrock and Charlie Woods are presenting
a workshop at the 4th Scottish Mediation Con-
ference on the topic of ‘Mediation and Climate
Change: Can Mediation Save the Planet?’
For any follow up details and reports on the
conference, go to the conference website after
8 March 2010.
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VIEWPOINT RESPONSE
from John Sturrock
David Semple’s Viewpoint (‘What’s in a Name?’,
December Collaborate) raises an important
issue. The use of ‘ADR’ synonymously with
‘mediation’ is the cause of much confusion
and uncertainty. The term is still regularly
used in policy and other circles in Scotland
and elsewhere and it seems that sometimes
those who use it are themselves not quite sure
what it means. David’s proposal that ADR
should henceforth be understood to mean
“Appropriate Dispute Resolution” is attractive
and rational. However, we live in an irrational
world and people have in their minds that ADR
means something particular rather than some-
thing comprehensive. It is certainly appropriate
to do as David suggests and encourage folk to
look at the full range of options to help to find a
solution to a given dispute, with clear guidance
on the range of non-adversarial routes which
are available and are often preferable. But
we should consign the expression ADR to
the refuse bin of ambiguity and unhelpful
language. We need clarity and simplicity. We
should all, mediators, administrators, users
and policy-makers, pledge in 2010 never to
use the expression ADR again!
John Sturrock QC is the founder and Chief
Executive of Core Solutions Group. He
received the Mediator of the Year award at
the Law Awards of Scotland 2009 and has
mediated for over 10 years in a wide range of
disputes and differences.
Do you have a Viewpoint you would like
to share with readers in a future edition of
Collaborate? Send your submission to:
viewpoint@scottishmediation.org.uk.
For submission guidelines, please email Toni
on collaborate@scottishmediation.org.uk.
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for people interested in mediation in Scotland
TEMPOR ARY MEMBERSHIP
ADMINISTR ATOR (PART-TIME)
Scottish Mediation Network
Edinburgh
Overall Purpose of the Job
To provide administrative support ensuring
an effective transition to the new membership
year commencing 1 April with the objective to
retain existing members and increase overall
membership of the Scottish Mediation Network
and Scottish Mediation Register
Whole Stair/Multi Party Mediation
5th March 2010
Edinburgh
This course is for mediators who already have
some mediation experience, but would like
to feel more confident about handling whole
stair/multi party mediations.
The course aims to: increase understanding
of the dynamics of whole stair/multi party
mediations; offer techniques and strategies
for successfully mediating whole stair/multi
party mediations; and increase confidence in
managing whole stair/multi party mediations.
The course will cover: preparing for the
mediation, setting up the mediation, mediating
Workplace Mediation Skills
Rowan Consultancy
15 & 22 March 2010
Perth, Scotland
The Rowan Mediation Skills training is for
managers and HR professionals who would
like to develop their mediation skills.
• You will gain knowledge and skills to help
you resolve conflicts at an early stage.
• You will learn how to facilitate the two
disputants to create their own mutually
agreed win-win solution.
FEBRUARY 2010 ISSUE 59
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Essential Skills
• IT literate, specifically able to demonstrate:
a competent level of use of all Microsoft
office applications; accuracy in inputting
data in accordance with the website
content management system
• Demonstrate experience of excellent
communication skills and relationship
management; dealing with people by email,
telephone and face-to-face in a helpful and
constructive manner
TRAINING
in the group setting, facilitating an agreement,
closing the mediation, and follow-up.
Cost: £90
* * * * * * * * *
Shuttle Mediation
4 March 2010
Edinburgh
This course if for trained mediators and
participants will be able to: understand what
shuttle mediation is and what situations/con-
texts it can best be used in; understand the
strengths and weaknesses of this technique;
identify and avoid potential problems
inherent in shuttle mediation; and practice
conducting a shuttle mediation.
This course will give you a flexible model for
integrating mediation skills as part of your job,
to prevent conflicts escalating. It will build on
your existing self-awareness and communica-
tion skills. You will be expected to be open
and to participate in small group exercises to
develop your mediation skills.
The course is delivered by Rachel Weiss,
an active member of the Scottish Mediation
Network, who is on the Scottish Mediation
Register. Each training group consists of 6 to
12 participants, so that everyone can take an
active part and gain feedback on their skills.
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M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S YO U R S O L U T I O N
• Demonstrate competence in managing
potential and actual problems, confusion
and frustration regarding membership
renewal and applications.
For further information on the post, click here. If
you would like to apply, please send a CV and
covering letter by 5pm on Friday March 5 to
Carol Paton carolp@scottishmediation.org.uk.
For further discussion about the post, contact
David Adam admin@scottishmediation.org.uk
or 0131.556.1221.
This half-day course explores the use of shuttle
mediation. It examines the purpose and uses
of shuttle mediation and gives participants
the opportunity to practice effective shuttle
techniques.
Cost: £45
To book a place or for more information on the
above courses, please contact:
Robert Lambden
Scottish Community Mediation Centre
Tel: 0131.624.9200
Email: info@scmc.sacro.org.uk
www.scmc.sacro.org.uk
Costs: £390+VAT
If you’d like to discuss the course with the
trainer, please contact Rowan Consultancy on
0173.856.2005.
For online booking and details of course content
see www.rowan-consultancy.co.uk .
Rowan Consultancy
4 Kinnoull Street
Perth
PH1 5EN
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for people interested in mediation in Scotland
Mediation and Conflict Management
Skills Training Course
Core Solutions
Module 1: 24 – 26 March &
22 – 23 April 2010
Optional Mediator Assessment Module:
20 and 21 May 2010
For decision-makers, business leaders,
professional advisers, managers, executives
and those in the private and public sectors
with responsibility for managing or resolving
differences, disputes and conflict internally or
externally.  and personal assessment.
Peer Mediation Training for Trainers
Scottish Mediation Network
25 & 26 March 2010
Edinburgh
This two-day training event would be an
appropriate course for experienced family and
community mediators, experienced youth and
community workers, teachers (primary and
secondary) who are motivated to work with
young people in this field. No previous experi-
ence of delivering peer mediation is required.
Mediators who have some experience of peer
mediation are also welcome.
Event Aims
• Equip participants with the knowledge and
skills to deliver peer mediation training.
• Build training capacity and to increase
the number of peer mediation trainers in
Scotland.
• Work towards the development of validation
and standardisation of peer mediation
practice and training.
FEBRUARY 2010 ISSUE 59
T R A I N I N G (c o n t i n u e d )
Core’s highly valued mediation training
has been well established since 2001. Our
internationally recognised team of coaches,
drawn from throughout the UK, is led by senior
mediators, John Sturrock, Pamela Lyall and
Heather Allen. Core is recognised by both the
Civil Mediation Council and the International
Mediation Institute.
Focussing on negotiation and conflict man-
agement techniques, along with hands-on
experience of each stage of the mediation
process, with extensive one-to-one coaching
Expectations
Participants will hear from experienced peer
mediation trainers. At the end of this two-day
event they will be provided with the information
required to deliver peer mediation training in
schools. Participants will be given access to
training materials, resources and information to
help create a peer mediation training toolkit.
Content
• Working in schools and within the school
culture
• History and background of peer mediation
in Scotland
• The place of peer mediation in a whole
school approach to relationships
• Setting up peer mediation: consultancy
and preparation
• Peer mediation models
• Training children and young people:
guidelines, materials and golden rules
• Sustaining and maintaining peer mediation
• Monitoring and evaluation
Principle Facilitators:
Carol Hope and Toni Freitas
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M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S YO U R S O L U T I O N
Completion of Module 1 leads to Core’s
Certificate of Attendance at Mediation Training.
Successful completion of the optional Assess-
ment Module leads to the Core Certificate of
Competence in Mediation Skills.
To register online, or for further information,
contact:
Laura Rutherford
Core Solutions
Rutland House, 19 Rutland Square
Edinburgh EH12BB
Tel: 0131.221.2520
Email: laura.rutherford@core-solutions.com
www.core-solutions.com
Feedback from previous course
Participants
“The course was great! I like the mixture of
the theory and the practice.”
“Can’t wait to get started feel more confident
to put ideas into practice.”
“Great contacts, fun, enjoyable, awesome,
eye opening and thought provoking.”
“Fab, brain straining, but enthused me to use
the skills in my work.”
Cost: £100 total for two days training including
lunch, teas and coffees.
Group discount 3 or more participants: 10%
discount.
Limited places available, so book early to
avoid disappointment! For further details and
booking form, contact David Adam:admin@
scottishmediation.org.uk or go to the Scottish
Mediation Network website.
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W W W. SCOT T I S H M E D I AT I O N .O RG .U K
for people interested in mediation in Scotland M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S YO U R S O L U T I O N

T R A I N I N G (c o n t i n u e d )

Supervision Skills for Mediators
PMR Ltd
19 & 20 April 2010
Central London (by Euston station)
‘Mediators need good supervision. Good
supervision supports best quality practice.’
PMR Ltd are offering an accredited two-day For further information and a booking form:
training OCN Certificate. Do you want to
Tel: 0162.677.6857
supervise others mediators (from any mediation
Email: workplacemediation@googlemail.com
sector)? Then this is the training for you!
www.workplacemediation.co.uk
Cost: £750 (no VAT)

International Summer School in
Mediation and Negotiation
University of Strathclyde
(in association with John)
Marshall Law School
31 May to 4 June 2010
Glasgow
This one week intensive course is a unique
opportunity for students from the UK and the
USA to learn together and acquire new skills.
The course will examine the theories, methods,
techniques and objectives of legal negotiation
and mediation. Topics include conflict theory; Costs: Student/voluntary sector: £599,
conflict and culture; mediation practice; professional: £999
communication skills; effective negotiation.
For further details and to download a flier, click
The programme is taught, using a mix of here.
seminars, interactive learning and simulated
mediations, by leading academics and prac- If you have further questions, contact:
titioners from Scotland and the USA: Charlie Dr Bryan Clark, bryan.clark@strath.ac.uk
Irvine, Dr Bryan Clark (Strathclyde) Prof Susann
McLachlan (John Marshall), with a keynote
address by John Sturrock QC. The course is
aimed at students and recent graduates in law.

Master of Societal Conflicts
and Interventions
University of Copenhagen
October 2010 to June 2012
Copenhagen, Denmark
The MoSCI programme is interdisciplinary
and provides participants with both theoretical
and practical skills. The programme gives
participants in depth understanding of
research-based theories concerning the
causes of conflicts, conflict prevention, conflict
handling and implementation of constructive
processes of societal change in a national as
well as an international perspective.
The MoSCI programme is designed for senior
professionals who, in their professional careers:
deal with conflicts that are destructive or have
the potential to develop in a destructive way
for the organisation/institution and society as
a whole; work on or want to work on finding
solutions to conflicts in order to strengthen the
societal and international community; work
proactively on preventing conflicts on the so-
cietal level, e.g. between business enterprises,
NGOs and/or government institutions, nation-
ally and internationally.
The MoSCI programme is conducted by highly
qualified teachers and researchers from vari-
ous countries. In addition to selected research-
ers from the University of Copenhagen, the
teaching staff consists of highly qualified prac-
titioners and theorists from several disciplines.
Vibeke Vindeløv, Professor, LLD, CU Faculty
of Law, has the academic responsibility for the
programme.
The application deadline is 6 April 2010. For
in-depth details, admissions requirements,
and how to apply for the course, click here
or download a brochure here.
For further information contact:
Vibeke Vindeløv, Professor, LLD
vibeke.vindelov@jur.ku.dk
or Mette Møhl, Programme Coordinator
mette.mohl@jur.ku.dk
University of Copenhagen
Faculty of Law
Tel: +45 35 32 26 26

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for people interested in mediation in Scotland M E D I AT I O N : I T ’ S YO U R S O L U T I O N

EVENTS

Resilience Through Life
Scottish Social Networks
(in partnership with Befriending Network
Scotland, Scottish Mentoring Network &
The Rock Trust)
3 March 2010
Stirling
Resilience Through Life: An exploration of
theory and practice and how it applies to the
transitions faced throughout life.
Can resilience theory applied in practice
promote wellbeing for individuals experiencing
adversity? Can it provide support in transitions
throughout life? This seminar seeks to:
• Disseminate the findings of the Knowledge
Exchange
• Consider support on resilience for practi-
tioners delivering services
• Examine projects where resilience theory
is being used in practice with young people
• Explore how resilience theory and practice
applies to the transitions faced throughout
life.
Experts from research and practice, lead
by Professor Brigid Daniel, will share their
experiences but your contribution to the debate
is vital.
Costs: This is a free event however there will
be a late cancellation fee of £20 per person
where places are cancelled less than two
working days in advance of the day, or where
a delegate fails to attend. Places can be
transferred by agreement with the organisers.
To apply for a place online go to
www.scottishsocialnetworks.org/events
or contact:
Natalie Barrett
Scottish Social Networks
Email: info@scottishsocialnetworks.org
Tel: 0131.557.4059

Beyond Resolution: The Art and Skill
of Conflict Engagement
25 March 2010
This workshop is aimed at practitioners who
are not familiar with Bernard Mayer’s work.
Mayer writes:
“The heart of our work as conflict professionals
lies in the challenge of helping people work
on conflict at the level that it has the most
meaning for them. Mediator, negotiators and
other conflict professionals are often limited
by their understanding of their purpose, their
role, and their intervention procedures. But
to realise the potential of our work as conflict
professionals, we have to be willing to delve
into the heart of conflict and to expand our
concept to our role.”
The workshop will look at practical ways in
which conflict professionals can explore the
nature of the conflict, design intervention
strategies and help people work on the emo-
tional, behavioural and cognitive dimensions
of conflict.
Staying with Conflict: Working with Both workshops are presented by Bernie Mayer
On-going Disputes PhD, Professor, Werner Institute of Negotiation
26 March 2010 and Dispute Resolution, Creighton University,
and Partner at CDR Associates.
This Workshop is based on Bernard Mayer’s
new book Staying with Conflict. He writes: Costs: £120.00 each workshop or £180.00
for both workshops.
“We think of conflict as a linear process
requiring effective resolution. But the most For more information and to book a place
important conflicts in people’s lives do not contact:
end; they endure in one form of another,
Institute of Family Therapy
sometimes for many years. This presents
London
both a major challenge and a major challenge
www.ift.org.uk
and a major opportunity for ADR practitioners,
0207.391.9150
including mediators, advocates and systems
designers.”
This workshop will look at the most significant
conflicts participants face and consider how to
intervene in them, working specifically on how
to reconstruct conflict narratives in ways that
can be constructive for the further. The work-
shop will also explore the powerful tendencies
to avoid conflict which inadvertently exacerbate
it further, and seek ways to establish durable
communication.

* * * * * * * * * back to index

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the mailing list, please let us know.) website: www.scottishmediation.org.uk