THE FAMILY MEDIATION TRUST - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Accredited Mediator
- Member of Resolution
- Treasurer for the Cambridge
Belinda is an accredited FMCA Mediator and one of the first UK practitioners to be trained as a parenting co-ordinator.
Belinda is an accredited FMCA Mediator with the Family Mediation Council, having completed her mediation training with the Family Mediators Association.
After re-training in law and completing her legal studies (GDL and LPC) in 2015, Belinda worked in the property and family teams of high street law firms before deciding to train as a family mediator. Belinda felt more comfortable working to reduce conflict in divorce and separation, having witnessed the damage that adversarial court processes and hostility can inflict on children and family relationships.
Belinda says, "For separating families, it is important to put children at the centre of considerations, rather than in the middle of conflict".
As a relatively new mediator, Belinda is open to adopting new family justice initiatives, such as the invitation of Independent Financial Neutral Advisers into mediation sessions to discuss matters such as business valuations, pensions or trust assets.
Belinda is also one of the first UK practitioners to be trained as a parenting co-ordinator under the AFCC (Association of Family and Conciliation Courts), which is an inter-disciplinary and international association of professionals dedicated to the resolution of family conflict. Parenting co-ordination offers a framework to support parents, either separately or together, to understand the impact of parental conflict on their children and to support them in improving their co-parenting communication so as to significantly improve outcomes for their children.
Prior to re-training in law, Belinda ran her own business, having completed an MBA (Master's in Business Administration) and a degree in Modern Foreign Languages. More recently, Belinda has concluded a Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills.
In her spare time, Belinda is also the Treasurer for the Cambridge and Ely Child Contact Centres.
Belinda is a member of Resolution and the College of Mediators.
An experienced family law solicitor by background, Claire trained as a mediator in 2019 and is now working towards accreditation.
Job Titles:
- Lead Professional Practice Consultant
Craig is the lead Professional Practice Consultant (PPC) for the Trust and supervises the team of mediators.
Debbie works on responding to your enquiries in the office.
Debbie joined The Cambridge Family Mediation Service in October 2015 as an Enquiry Officer/Administrator on returning to work.
Since leaving full time education, she has enjoyed a long and varied career in administration, particularly for the public sector including the NHS and Notting Hill Housing Trust.
Deborah works within our team of enquiry officers/administrators, responding to your enquiries.
Deborah has over 30 years experience in customer service administration and worked within Peterborough and District Family Mediation Service since 2014.
Now working within The Family Mediation Trust, she joins our team of enquiry officers/administrators.
Deborah is here to help separated partners progress through the process of mediation, responding to all of your enquiries.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Head of Family Law at Edmondson Hall
- Member of Resolution
Elisabeth has vast experience in family law and has strong connections with fellow solicitors and local businesses in and around Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds.
Elisabeth is partner and head of family law at Edmondson Hall specializing in family law dealing with divorce and financial issues that arise when a relationship ends, putting in place arrangements for children when a family breakdown occurs, cohabitation disputes, post and pre-nuptial agreements.
Elisabeth is a member of Resolution and also a Collaborative Lawyer. Elisabeth has worked in and around Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds for most of her career and has strong connections with her fellow solicitors and local businesses.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Strategic Partnerships Coordinator for the University of Cambridge
Hilary has extensive experience in project management and promotion, and has served on the management committees of several local charities.
Hilary grew up in Yorkshire, and moved southwards for university and work, first in Oxford, then London and now Cambridge. She spent the first part of her career in international music management, before turning to university administration.
Currently working as a Strategic Partnerships Coordinator for the University of Cambridge, Hilary has served on the management committees of several local charities, and is currently Secretary of X-Press Boat Club.
Hilary joined the board of Cambridge Family Mediation Service in September 2019, and is looking forward to bringing her skills in project management, analysis and promotion to the work of The Family Mediation Trust.
Job Titles:
- PPC and Accredited Mediator
Delivering professional mediation to the trust for 18 years, Jane brings her vast experience of family law to conduct child inclusive mediation sessions.
Jane has extensive experience in family law having worked as a barrister for 20 years. After co-authoring family law textbooks, lecturing nationwide, and having run her own private family mediation practice for five years, Jane has worked for the Family Mediation Trust as a family mediator from 2002 and conducts child inclusive mediation sessions.
Jane has worked with divorcing and separating couples throughout the country on both their child arrangements and property & finance arrangements.
Jane brings her experience as a family law solicitor (now non practising) for over 20 years to her work as a family mediator.
Jane gained her accreditation through the Family Mediation Council in 2018 and has worked exclusively as a Family Mediator since 2016 before joining the Family Mediation Trust. Jane qualified as a Child Consultant in Mediation in 2021.
Jane has worked with divorcing and separating couples throughout the country on both their child arrangements and property & finance arrangements.
Jane has presented the Cafcass SPIP Course and draws on the messages from that course to support parents in their discussions on child arrangements. In her role as a solicitor, Jane managed matrimonial finance cases either negotiating a settlement or through the court process and utilises those skills in clients' discussions concerning financial arrangements following separation.
Jane says: My skill set and way of approaching cases is suited to working with the clients together in mediation to explore mutually acceptable options and to keep their children as the focus of their discussions. Gaining swift experience from March 2020 of working online through Teams and WhatsApp has enabled me to support clients throughout lockdown and I will continue to offer online appointments.
Away from work Jane is a governor at her local Infant School where, pre pandemic, she enjoyed supporting children with their reading and accompanying school trips.
Jayne provides the Norfolk Family Mediation Service with office support and is the one you will speak to on the phone.
Jayne joined Norfolk Family Mediation in 2000, following two years of study on computing at City College Norwich. She oversees the day-to-day running of the office. Jayne's long term relationship with the service means she has a good understating of how meditation works and often helps callers understand the first steps to the process.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Professor of Social Work at the University of East Anglia
Jonathan is emeritus professor of social work at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. He worked in the school of social work at UEA from 1998 to 2023, and served as head of the school from 2016-21. As a social worker and researcher, Jonathan has long-standing interests in the processes and outcomes of family court proceedings, child safeguarding, child welfare policy and social work practice for supporting families and children. Jonathan is also the chair of the Norfolk Local Family Justice Board.
Karen is a specialist family lawyer; trained as both a collaborative practitioner and a family finance arbitrator. Karen is a solo practitioner trading as Essex Family Law, and she plays a highly active role in the Essex family law sector.
Karen has a special interest in out-of-court processes and working to ensure that families, as far as possible, are able to preserve important relationships after separation/divorce.
Karen says: "The Family Mediation Trust provides high quality independent support for families. I want to support this work in any way I am able".
Liz has extensive experience in the marketing field, now Head of Marketing at the law and financial services firm Tees. An advocate of family mediation, Liz helps The Family Mediation Trust with marketing advice.
Liz was born in London and graduated from York University with a Political Science degree, before working for BBC Radio for 8 years. Since 2000 she has worked in a range of marketing, PR and communications roles, mainly for charities.
Liz is now Head of Marketing at the law and financial services firm Tees, which has a team of 16 family lawyers.
Job Titles:
- Accredited Mediator
- Simon Noble Solicitors Ltd As a Family Solicitor
Lucy Osafo is a respected family mediator with over 8 years of experience, known for her expertise, professionalism, and positive outcomes.
Lucy Osafo is an experienced family mediator. With over eight years of experience in family mediation, Lucy has become a respected member of the mediation community, known for her expertise, professionalism, and commitment to helping families achieve positive outcomes.
Lucy's journey to becoming a family mediator began after she obtained her LLB from Cardiff University in 2002. She went on to work as a family solicitor for over a decade before discovering her passion for mediation. In 2014, Lucy trained as a family mediator for Family First Mediation Services, where she honed her skills and gained valuable experience working with families dealing with complex issues.
In 2020, Lucy joined Simon Noble Solicitors Ltd as a family solicitor, where she continues to provide legal advice to families going through difficult times. She also serves as a family mediator and director at Family Mediation Online, where she has helped numerous families resolve conflicts virtually.
Lucy's approach to mediation is grounded in her belief that families should have the tools and support they need to resolve conflicts and make informed decisions. She is committed to providing a safe and confidential environment where families can communicate effectively and reach mutually beneficial solutions.
Outside of work, Lucy enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering in her local community. She is committed to promoting peaceful conflict resolution and helping families overcome challenges to achieve positive outcomes.
Mike provides the team with the support needed to run a professional service and to support the charity objectives.
As a former primary school teacher, Rebecca will be bringing experiences from both mediation and teaching in to her work in Norwich.
Rebecca brings experience as a teacher as well as mediation experience picked up in Essex and Cambridge.
Rosemary responds to your enquiries and will be the person on the other end of the phone.
Rosemary joined the Service as an Enquiry Officer for The Cambridge Family Mediation Service in early 2016.
She is an experienced customer service administrator, having worked in the private, public and volunteer sectors. Rosemary has also trained as a presenter for the Separated Parents Information Programme.
With more than 12 years' experience as an Accredited Family Mediator , Ruth is also an accredited Systematic Practitioner and presents the Separated Parents Information Programme.
Ruth applies her vast academic and theoretical work to her mediation at The Family Mediation Trust where she has been a highly valued member of the team as an Accredited Mediator since 2011. Ruth is also an experienced presenter on the Separated Parents Information Programme.
Sam works on responding to your enquiries online and over the phone.
Sam previously worked for Peterborough and District Family Mediation Service since 2006 and now works as an Enquiries Officer for The Family Mediation Trust.
Sellina qualified as a family solicitor in 2006 and she has practiced in this area since. Sellina joined Buckles' family department in March 2017, based in Peterborough - since 2018 she has focused on children matters.
Sellina says: "I would like to be able to assist the charity to achieve its goals, but also make balanced decisions ensuring that the objectives of the charity are carried out".
Sue brings her vast teaching background to Child Inclusive Mediation and supports people of all backgrounds through online media.
Sue's background is in teaching where, the best part of the job for Sue, was the children. Moving into mediation for The Family Mediation Trust, Sue provides online sessions when she splits her time between the UK and Africa.
Tracy was appointed as a magistrate in 1996. She is the current Cambridgeshire Family Panel Chair and represents panel chairs on the South East Magistrates Leadership Group.
On the day she became a magistrate, Tracy joined the Magistrates Association (MA), which is the only independent voice of the magistracy and she is now chair of the MA's Family Court Policy Committee. She was a member of the Private Law Working Group and is a member of the Nuffield Family Observatory Trust Advisory Committee. Away from court related activities, Tracy enjoys theatre, music and classic cars.
On being appointed as the chair, Tracy said:
"I am delighted to be chairing the Family Mediation Trust."
Wendy is a trained presenter and completed the Level 3 Award in Education and Training in 2014.
Wendy brings her extensive experience as a solicitor to her mediation practice where she has provided support across Cambridge for 15 years.
Wendy has vast experience as a solicitor which has led to her achieving full recognition as an experienced mediator. Wendy is also involved in delivering training and presentations for both marketing and information purposes.