UNITE's Year of the Volunteer 2008

HELP us make it a peaceful 2008 – that is the message from a region-wide mediation and conciliation service that is on the lookout for volunteers.

Unite, the Middlesbrough-based service which helps neighbours, families and businesses solve disputes marks its 15th anniversary this year. Starting out as a pilot project on three Teesside estates, the project now operates across the Tees Valley, Sunderland, Gateshead, Easington and Hambleton in North Yorkshire.

It is currently looking to recruit volunteer mediators, particularly on Tyneside and Teessside.

“Our core work is still resolving disputes between neighbours – over noise, children, and anti-social behaviour”, said Unite’s Chief Executive, Helen Lowrie.

“But we have now branched out and now help resolve disputes between employers and employees, family members and also run a project focusing on minority ethnic groups and a restorative justice project bringing perpetrators and victims of crime together.

“Our approach is always consistent – we aim to bring the two sides together and help them find a sustainable solution to whatever their problem is.”

During 2008, Unite will be recruiting and training more voluntary mediators – it currently has around 20 volunteers supporting its 15 full-time staff.

One of UNITE’s longest-serving volunteers, Richard Westmorland, from Darlington, said: “It really is tremendously satisfying. I remember mediating between two neighbours who hadn’t spoken to each other for 13 years. It was a typical petty dispute that had festered. I helped them resolve it and when I left they were standing on the doorstep, chatting away, just catching up. I felt as if I had made a real difference to them.”

During 2008, Unite will also develop its restorative justice project and “intra-family mediation”, helping resolve issues between parents and teenagers which often lead to young people becoming homeless. It will also offer a mediation and conciliation service to business, helping to resolve cases of stress or harassment and industrial disputes.

“Last year, we helped resolve a dispute between an employer and their 500-strong workforce”, said Helen. “We see this as an area where mediation skills are under-used at the moment. We want to help firms avoid what are often expensive and time-consuming workplace problems. ”

“Our message is always that mediation can provide lasting solutions to problems in your neighbourhood, home or workplace. It can avoid an awful lot of stress and unhappiness and also save a lot of money by avoiding the need to call in other agencies like police, social services or housing organisations.

“We rely on volunteers to make Unite a success, so are hoping this year that more people will support our work – I think they’ll find it one of the most fulfilling and interesting voluntary activities there is.”

Unite will shortly be running courses for volunteers which lead to a nationally-recognised qualification.