Family Mediation Week: Monday 26 to Friday 30 January 2026
Family law professionals are invited to take part in a series of free one-hour webinars during Family Mediation Week 2026, taking place from Monday 26 to Friday 30 January.
The annual awareness week, organised by the Family Mediation Council (FMC), showcases how family mediation can support the work of solicitors, social workers, teachers, and a range of others involved in helping families through separation and conflict.
A dedicated strand of sessions will also provide family mediators themselves with practical tools and up-to-date insights to strengthen their everyday practice. Registration is now open on the FMC website.
2026 programme themes
The 2026 webinar line-up will cover a wide range of topics relevant to both family law professionals and practising mediators, including:
- Working with an interpreter in mediation
- Kinship mediation
- Practical tips for lawyers supporting clients in mediation
- Managing high conflict behaviours in mediation
- Supporting neurodiverse clients
- Children’s voices in family separation
- An introduction to family mediation for Local Family Justice Board members
- Sharia councils and family mediation
- Using mediation to tackle challenges faced by separating military families
- Tools for teachers: supporting children in separating families.
Building on the success of 2025
Family Mediation Week continues to grow year on year.
The 2025 programme attracted 3,770 participants across 17 webinars: a 19% increase on attendance the year before, despite a smaller overall number of sessions. The sustained growth reflects increasing recognition across the family justice sector of the role mediation can play in reducing conflict, supporting children’s wellbeing, and improving outcomes for separating families.
FMC Chief Executive, Helen Anthony, says: “Every year we hear from families and professionals who tell us how much they’ve gained from these free events.
“Whether you work with separating parents or you’re going through a separation yourself, these webinars offer clear, practical information about the support available.
“We encourage anyone with an interest in helping families through difficult times to sign up. Even a single session can make a real difference to a family’s future.”
The programme will again include practical, skills-focused sessions for mediators, alongside events designed to help wider professionals understand when and how mediation can support their work with families.
Why Family Mediation Week matters
Family Mediation Week provides an annual opportunity to raise awareness of family mediation and the benefits it can bring: helping families manage arrangements for children, property and finances with less stress, lower cost, and greater control. The week also highlights the importance of high-quality, accredited mediation practice across the sector.
