Equality Policy

Declaration of interest

The Tower Hamlets Mediation Project (THMP) is committed to providing a quality service for the people living and working in the Borough of Tower Hamlets, as well as for anyone associated with our partner organisations.

This quality of service is ensured through equality of access and opportunity for all project workers, volunteers and service users.

THMP opposes all forms of discrimination against its project workers, volunteers and service users on any grounds. To support this declaration THMP resolves to do the following:

  • Recognise, welcome and affirm the rich diversity in society generally, and particularly within the communities of Tower Hamlets.
  • Actively encourage representation and participation in all THMP activities from all local communities.
  • To monitor and evaluate this representation and participation, and to further encourage any communities which are shown to be underrepresented or not to be participating
  • To provide guidance and support to all people directly involved with THMP activities in order to ensure that this Equality Policy is recognised, understood, applied and periodically reviewed.
  • Make every effort to ensure that our Equality Policy is reflected throughout all aspects of our work.

Implementation of policy

THMP works to identify and remove barriers directly or indirectly preventing access to its service from people who might benefit from it. These include barriers of language, culture, location, physical comfort, hearing and vision as well as practical problems such as transport and child-care:

  • Interpreters are used to bridge language difference.
  • When arranging joint sessions, THMP will endeavour to provide ease of access to the venue. Safe transport may be provided for service users who would otherwise be unable to get to the venue.

 

Promotion of service

All general publicity about services offered will be aimed at the widest possible audience within Tower Hamlets. Publicity material will be reviewed for readability and accessibility, including text translation where necessary.

FAQ

Most frequent questions and answers

Mediation gives you a safe space for difficult conversations.

It is a voluntary process where independent, impartial mediators help people recognise and acknowledge their position in a dispute and work towards resolving the conflict. 

Community mediation is confidential and flexible to the specific needs of all participants. THMP mediators facilitate the process without giving advice or expressing opinions. They work in an empathic and non-judgemental way in an informal setting which puts all parties at ease. 

The process

  • All sessions are currently conducted online using video conferencing. 
  • Mediators initially meet up separately.
  • If both parties agree, a joint online mediation session is arranged. 
  • Parties are encouraged to talk openly and respectfully and acknowledge their differences and recognise common grounds and shared needs. 
  • Mediators explore options with the parties, affirm steps made and encourage new ideas for getting their needs met. 
  • Mediators help the parties to discover their own solution and make choices based on realistic expectations. 

Mediation can help you to sort out in your mind what is ‘your’ best way forward, a bit like coaching. We can help you to talk to your neighbour in a safe way after we have coached you both. 

You can stop the process at absolutely any point. It’s always your call – the ball is in your court. 

If mediation doesn’t work, you have lost nothing as it’s free, but more importantly you will gain confidence in deciding what you want to do next as we help you to make a plan moving forward.

There are no costs involved to anyone at any stage of the mediation process.