Is the vision statement of the Mheadhanar Inverness Mediation Service, which held it’s annual general meeting at the Merkinch Community Centre in July.

The service exists to promote and provide ready access to mediation and other means of conflict settlement in the lives of people and their communities.

The establishment of such a service will enable communities to deal with disagreements and hostilities in a positive manner through mediation.

The idea started a little over 2 years ago, and as Diane MacLeod admits in her annual chairpersons report a mediation service seemed a harrowing undertaking to kick start. However, at a recent meeting held at the Muirton Motel for family mediation there was standing room only, proving that there is a lot of people taking an active interest in the ideas and aims of mediation.

At the annual general meeting a new committee was voted in and includes Ali MacLean as Vice Chair, Keith Bootle as Chair and David Brookfield as Treasurer.

It was also agreed that the application for Lottery funding should go ahead. It is hoped that the funding will enable the service to set up a central office, which in time, will house a development worker, administrative support and office staff. New chair, Keith Bootle says, "Last time we applied for Lottery funding we were, unfortunately, not successful, however, this time round we are reasonably confident that the application will be a success."

One of the aims of the Mheadhanar Inverness Community Mediation Service is the setting up of a Peer Mediation service which will advocate the benefits of negotiation and compromise among young people and their community. This service is focussed on offering mediation specifically to young people and it will encourage them, through trained advisors, that there are alternative ways in dealing with disagreements and confrontation.

Once the project is up and running the service will be looking at recruiting and training volunteers who will act as mediators to situations from outside their own area which will ensure complete impartiality. Other organisations that will be involved in the project include Inverness High School and the new Community School liaison officer.