Mediation Plus was one of over 60 local organisations
awarded grants totaling almost £300,000 from the Safer in Sussex Community Fund
by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne in Lewes last week from more
than 90 applications made to the fund.
Working together with colleagues from community
mediation services in Brighton, Hastings and West Sussex to make a joint bid as
the Sussex Mediation Alliance, the
application had to demonstrate support for the priorities set out in the PCC's
Police and Crime Plan, including tackling antisocial behavior and addressing
community priorities such as drug and alcohol harm, as well as reducing
reoffending and the impact of domestic abuse and hate
crime.
The Sussex Mediation Alliance was awarded funding of
£30,000 to support the four services, who together provide domestic,
intergenerational and family mediation services across East Sussex, West Sussex
and Brighton & Hove. The will help to ensure the continued provision
of voluntary dispute resolution to residents and communities across the
county.
Clive Gross, Mediation Plus Service Manager said: "This funding is vital to help preserve our work with our local Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Eastbourne and Wealden, providing them with a valuable early-intervention service that can prevent disputes escalating and ending in serious incidents. Over 600 community mediation referrals are serviced every year across Sussex. Mediation can help to assist in the prevention of crime and reduce the levels of crime and antisocial behavior as well as addressing the fear of crime. Police officers are also offered suitable training on how to make appropriate referrals to mediation and how to encourage parties to take part, prior to any intervention."
"By working together as the Sussex Mediation Alliance, we can offer community based mediation and conflict resolution services to individuals, organisations and agencies across both counties to a high and consistent standard of services in terms of quality and working practices.
Clive Gross, Mediation Plus Service Manager said: "This funding is vital to help preserve our work with our local Neighbourhood Policing Teams in Eastbourne and Wealden, providing them with a valuable early-intervention service that can prevent disputes escalating and ending in serious incidents. Over 600 community mediation referrals are serviced every year across Sussex. Mediation can help to assist in the prevention of crime and reduce the levels of crime and antisocial behavior as well as addressing the fear of crime. Police officers are also offered suitable training on how to make appropriate referrals to mediation and how to encourage parties to take part, prior to any intervention."
"By working together as the Sussex Mediation Alliance, we can offer community based mediation and conflict resolution services to individuals, organisations and agencies across both counties to a high and consistent standard of services in terms of quality and working practices.
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne added:
"I am delighted with the initial response to the Fund. The sheer number of
applications received reflects the huge number of local organisations and
community groups who are committed to keeping Sussex safe.
“I will be closely following the progress of these
projects over the coming months to monitor the real impact they are delivering
for residents in Sussex.”
