It’s hard to sit in a quiet house and look at the empty space. You miss the sound of your children laughing and you miss holding their hands on the way home from school.
Alienating behaviour happens when one parent makes a child feel like they have to pick a side. Over time the child starts to push the other parent away for no clear reason.
When you are the parent left on the outside you feel completely forgotten and broken inside. You try to reach out with texts or cards, and you get met with cold silence or anger instead.
| What Non-Resident Parents Experience | How Family Mediation Helps |
| Feeling totally cut off from daily routines | Creating a safe space to share true feelings |
| Frustration over missed special occasions | Rebuilding clear boundaries for both parents |
| Deep grief over the sudden change in affection | Keeping the focus purely on the needs of the child |
Family mediation gives you a voice when you feel like nobody is listening to you. A trained impartial mediator sits down with both parents to help untangle the hard feelings and focus on what your children really need.
You do not have to walk through this on your own. Taking a small step toward mediation can help open up gentle paths for your family to heal together.
Mediation works best when both parents feel safe to speak openly and want to make fair choices for their children, although please remember that it isn’t suitable if there is ongoing danger or severe harm because protecting your family always comes first.
Help with Mediation Costs: Legal Aid and the Voucher Scheme
Cost does not have to be a barrier to resolving child arrangement disagreements. You may be eligible for financial support to help cover family mediation fees:
- Legal Aid: If you are on a low income or receive certain benefits, you may qualify for government Legal Aid. This covers the full cost of your initial assessment (MIAM) and subsequent mediation sessions. If one parent qualifies for Legal Aid, the other parent may also have their initial meeting and first joint session funded.
- Family Mediation Voucher Scheme: If you are not eligible for Legal Aid, you may still be able to access financial assistance. The UK government provides a non-means-tested voucher of up to £500 towards the cost of mediation for cases involving child arrangements. Your mediator will confirm your eligibility and handle the application directly, meaning you do not need to fill out complex forms.
If you would like to discuss your arrangements or book an initial meeting (MIAM) to check your eligibility for funding, contact our family mediation team today.
Start the process of mediation and make a referral through our website at https://kentfms.co.uk/make-a-referral/make-a-mediation-referral/ or phone us on 01795 410457 to book a separate mediation information meeting or MIAM.