The Ministry of Justice voucher scheme was due to end 31 March 2023 but has been extended to April 2025 at the same time the government issued a consultation paper (closing on 15 June 2023) on making mediation compulsory for separating couples in certain family cases but excluding those which include allegations or a history of domestic violence.
The consultation includes proposals to give courts power to order parents to make reasonable attempts to mediate and order fines “if they act unreasonably and harm a child’s well being by prolonging court proceedings”. There will also be powers to order parents to attend co-parenting classes.
“Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Dominic Raab MP said:
When parents drag out their separation through lengthy and combative courtroom battles it impacts on their children’s school work, mental health and quality of life. Our plans will divert thousands of time-consuming family disputes away from the courts – to protect children and ensure the most urgent cases involving domestic abuse survivors are heard by a court as quickly as possible.”
This initiative will build upon the existing family mediation voucher scheme introduced in 2021 to relieve the backlog in the courts due to the pandemic and years of underfunding.
The voucher scheme is accessed through accredited mediators.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-to-protect-children-under-new-mediation-reforms