CIVIL/COMMERCIAL MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence as a civil/commercial mediator
• Outstanding at resolving two-party and/or multi-party disputes which are protracted and/or deadlocked
• Committed to progressing mediation as a key means of resolving disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other
• Receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from the parties to the mediations in which the mediator has been appointed
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Current Member of the Civil Mediation Council and/or College of Mediators in good standing

WORKPLACE MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in workplace mediation
• Is outstanding at resolving significantly emotionally tense workplace disputes and/or workplace disputes where relationships have deteriorated to a significant degree
• Committed to progressing mediation as a key means of resolving disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other
• Receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from the parties to the mediations in which the mediator has been appointed
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Current Member of the Civil Mediation Council and/or College of Mediators in good standing

FAMILY MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in family mediation
• Outstanding at resolving numerous emotionally, logistically and/or financially complex family disputes over the relevant period
• Committed to progressing family mediation as a key means of resolving family disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other
• Committed to championing standards in family mediation
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council

CHILD INCLUSIVE MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in child inclusive mediation
• Committed to progressing child inclusive family mediation/family mediation as a key means of resolving family disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other (please detail)
• Committed to assisting other mediators working within PPC and/or family mediation to enhance their skills
• Committed to championing standards in family mediation
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council

PPC MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellent in providing PPC support to family mediators.
• Has no less than 3 active consultees
• Proactive in allowing consultees to observe own mediation practice and supports consultees by co-mediating
• Committed to assisting other mediators working within PPC and/or family mediation to enhance their skills
• Receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from consultees
• Committed to championing standards in family mediation
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council

LEGAL AID PROVIDER (FAMILY) OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in Legal Aid Provision
• Legal Aid provision forms a substantial part of provider’s practice
• Has a high success rate in helping clients resolve issues
• Champions Legal Aid and campaigns for future sustainability
• Invested in new mediators with a Legal Aid practice (evidence)
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council and has a legal aid contract

COMMUNITY MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in mediating community disputes
• Outstanding at resolving many community mediations, for example in the areas of: neighbourhood disputes, including anti-social behaviour, parking or boundary disputes, general communication breakdown, noise nuisance etc
• Conscientiously involved in the training of other volunteers working in the community mediation space
• Efficiently served populations that are unlikely to access or fund private mediation through volunteering, pro bono work or accepting appointment on a reduced fee
• Committed to progressing mediation as a key means of resolving disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators or community mediation provided; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee or as a trustee, promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Current Member in good standing of the Civil Mediation Council or College of Mediators and/or registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council in good standing, or delivering mediation for an organisation registered with one of the above, e.g. Community Mediation Member of the CMC

SEND MEDIATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence in the field of Special Educational Needs and Disability (“SEND”) mediation
• Outstanding at resolving at least 5 SEND mediations over the relevant period
• Committed to sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues/the next generation of mediators through mentoring and/or may take mediation observers
• Trains other mediators to work in the SEND mediation space
• Committed to improving standards in the SEND mediation space and/or is involved in actively promoting SEND mediation as an effective tool of dispute resolution within the community
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Is on the SEND Register operated by the College of Mediators and Civil Mediation Council in good standing

SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2026

• Can demonstrate excellence via appointments at more than 50 mediations and/or 50 more than 50 instructions as mediation advocate and/or has made a significant contribution to the field of mediation
• Made an exceptional contribution throughout their career in advancing mediation as a tool of dispute resolution across society, for example through: training and development; publications in leading journals/publishing books; government liaison; setting up of mediation organisations/panels; and/or similar
• Contributed to the promotion of mediation within England and Wales and/or more broadly, and has significantly raised governmental and/or public awareness of mediation
• Believed to have substantially affected the use of mediation through their achievements
• Made a significant impact in light of either a relatively short or relatively lengthy time in the mediation sector
• Shown a commitment to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Where relevant, current member in good standing of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council

RISING STAR AWARD 2026

• Overall has demonstrated early-in-career (< less than 3 years) significant achievements in the field of mediation, e.g. by significant repeat appointments as mediator, quality of skills at mediation evidenced by exceptional feedback and/or other exceptional indicators
• Shown outstanding talent for mediating and a proactive desire to improve by maintaining a high standard of continuing professional development – keeping records reflecting learning
• Committed to progressing mediation as a key means of resolving disputes across society through one of more of the following: mentoring; taking mediation observers; training/development of other mediators; promoting mediation through journal articles (including online), publication of books; vlogs, blogs, social media posts etc; serving on a committee promoting/advancing mediation; governmental liaison/speaking; keynote addresses; other
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Current Member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or registered and accredited Family Mediation in good standing

MEDIATION ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Overall can demonstrate excellence as a mediation advocate in any area of law at mediation
• A barrister, solicitor or other professional representative, representing parties at mediation and has acted in this capacity for at least three years (though not necessarily exclusively)
• Undertaken at least 1 multi-party dispute, though likely many more
• Receives overwhelmingly positive feedback from the party for which the mediation advocate has been instructed and/or the opposing party (or indeed that party’s lawyers)
• Can demonstrate receiving particular praise for mediation advocacy skills from at least one mediator at a mediation which settled
• Involved in actively promoting mediation as an effective tool of dispute resolution
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Shows support for the Civil Mediation Council, Family Mediation Council or College of Mediators by only recommending mediators registered with at least one of these bodies in disputes in which the mediation advocate is acting

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD 2026

An individual, institution, company or organisation that:

• Can demonstrate that diversity and inclusion values are incorporated within their mediation practice
• Can demonstrate regular promotion and provision of mediation to diverse communities across England and Wales
• Can demonstrate the impact of, and positive outcome from, an intersectional approach (viewing personal demographics such as age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, social mobility, disability and gender in combination instead of in isolation
• Can demonstrate that initiative or new practice(s) leave a lasting legacy
• Acts as a role model, sponsor or ally in championing equality
• Applies evidence and customer insight to tackle issues effectively to improve service user experience
• Current member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or Family Mediation Council in good standing or where unable to become a member can demonstrate support for one or all of these mediation focussed membership organisations

INNOVATION AWARD 2026

• Has successfully innovated in the field of mediation
• Actively engaged with their clients/customers to involve them in the design of services and is currently engaged in a programme of continuous improvement
• Has a quality assurance system in place, which ensures that services are delivered to the highest standards
• Invests in its employees/volunteers/partners e.g. by providing access to continuing professional development, supervision, coaching or action learning
• Shares their experiences with others e.g. through events, workshops or round tables and committed to driving up standards in their area of practice e.g. speaking at events, writing blogs or white papers etc
• Current member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or Family Mediation Council in good standing or where it is unable to become a member can demonstrate support for one or all of these membership

ADR ACADEMIC RESEARCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Academic at an established University in England and/or Wales published in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Through research output and/or teaching has made a significant impact on the continued use of mediation
• Conscientiously committed to sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues, mediators and/or parliament
• Actively involved in promoting ADR and in particular mediation as an effective tool of dispute resolution
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Current Member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or Family Mediation Council in good standing or shows support for one or more of these membership focussed mediation organisations

MEDIATION TRAINER (INDIVIDUAL) AWARD 2026

• Can demonstrate the training of mediators to high standards, ensuring those mediators can meet professional requirements and understand current best practice
• Can demonstrate an excellent understanding of their clients/customers’ needs
• Actively engages with their clients/customers to involve them in the design of services and engages in a programme of continuous feedback and improvement
• Has an outstanding quality assurance system in place, which ensures that services are delivered to the highest possible standard
• Invests in its employees/volunteers/partners e.g. by providing access to continuing professional development, supervision, coaching or action learning
• Shares their experiences with others e.g. through events, workshops or round tables and committed to improving standards in their area of practice e.g. through speaking engagements, blogs, white papers etc
• Current member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council in good standing

MEDIATION TRAINER (ORGANISATION) AWARD 2026

• Can demonstrate the training of mediators to high standards, ensuring those mediators can meet professional requirements and understand current best practice
• Can demonstrate an excellent understanding of their clients/customers’ needs
• Actively engages with their clients/customers to involve them in the design of services and engages in a programme of continuous feedback and improvement
• Has an outstanding quality assurance system in place, which ensures that services are delivered to the highest possible standard
• Invests in its employees/volunteers/partners e.g. by providing access to continuing professional development, supervision, coaching or action learning
• Shares their experiences with others e.g. through events, workshops or round tables and committed to improving standards in their area of practice e.g. through speaking engagements, blogs, white papers etc
• Current member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or registered and accredited by the Family Mediation Council in good standing

MEDIATION PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• Committed to providing excellent mediation services to clients
• Can demonstrate an exceptional understanding of their clients/customers’ needs, innovating where necessary to respond to these needs
• Has a high quality assurance system in place, which ensures that services are delivered to the highest possible standards
• Invests in new mediators, its employees/volunteers/partners e.g. by providing access to continuing professional development, supervision, coaching or action learning
• Shares their experiences with others e.g. through events, workshops or roundtables and is committed to improving standards in their area of practice e.g. speaking, blogs, articles, white papers etc
• Committed to equal opportunity, inclusion and diversity
• Organisation or its mediators are current members of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or registered by the Family Mediation Council in good standing

PEER MEDIATION SCHEME OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

• The school has demonstrated excellence in mediation projects and has developed innovative approaches in the field of school/young person’s mediation
• The peer mediators have demonstrated an ability to effectively support their peers to work through conflict
• The peer mediators have demonstrated a high level of enthusiasm, teamwork and commitment
• Peer mediation has been made visible and accessible to children/young people right across the school community
• The school gives ongoing recognition and support to the Peer mediators
• The school can evidence the positive impact Peer Mediation has had on their school community
• The school have made a contribution to the advancement of Peer Mediation by either profiling Peer Mediation beyond their own setting and or/developing innovative practice
• Current member of the Civil Mediation Council, College of Mediators and/or Family Mediation Council in good standing or where unable to become a member can demonstrate support for one or all of these mediation focussed membership organisations
• For this category, nominations may be submitted by the school itself, including by teachers or staff members.