The Uptake of Mediation from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic families in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Abstract

Cyrenians Mediation and Support Service (CMSS) has been operating inScotlandsince 2006.Working in partnership, the Early Intervention Partnership (EIP) in Edinburgh is a collaborative project between Cyrenians and Rock Trust with the aim of tackling youth homelessness through early intervention and preventing relationship breakdown due to conflict and arguments within families. In recent years, anecdotal evidencehas suggestedthat the service may not be receiving referrals proportionate to the population of Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in Edinburgh. This led to CMSS applying fora research grant to carry outresearch to determine the uptake of the mediation and support service fromthose ofBlack,Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds living in Edinburgh, and to compare this against the percentage of the population living in Edinburgh from BAME backgrounds. We were also keento listen to professionals working with BAME communities about their perception of the mediation service, as well as what they would look for themselves in a mediation service. This paper describes the research and its findings. Following the research, steps weretaken to implement the recommendations of the research, which are described below. But, first,weprovide some context and background to CMSS and mediationservice. Then, wereview studies of BAME communities and their access to services, including mediation, in the UK. From this, we identifysome of the barriers that are particular to BAME communities accessing services, which could be relevant to a mediation service that seeks to break down barriers to its services.