Scottish agriculture is set to benefit from an RSABI initiative which has seen a dozen individuals with practical agricultural knowledge and experience trained as mediators to help farming families resolve conflict and move forward positively.
The charity, which supports people in Scottish agriculture, is now embarking on a major awareness push to highlight the opportunity and benefits of mediation, which can be a successful, lower cost alternative to legal or court action.
During the coming year the charity will also help farmers and crofters cover the cost of mediation, by offering an initial £500 towards mediation fees, with the potential for further support depending on the circumstances.
The aim is to address the stress and anguish when tensions emerge relating to a wide range of different aspects of farming life – from relationship breakdowns between family members to fallouts between neighbouring farmers or crofters. As well as heartbreak and a negative impact on the mental wellbeing of those involved, major rifts will almost invariably also hit farm business performance.
The mediators will work with those involved in a conflict situation to help them move constructively towards an agreement and improved understanding. Importantly, the mediators don’t suggest solutions themselves but work impartially and fairly with the parties involved to support them to reach an agreement themselves, always with the assurance of confidentiality.
With those working in agriculture facing a considerable number of challenges and pressures, along with uncertainty and financial and other worries, the potential for tension and conflict is very real and something the RSABI welfare team regularly encounter.
“Sadly we see far too many situations around the country where farming families have reached an impasse due to relationships breaking down, and the result can be a miserable existence for all concerned,” said Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI.
“There are many family farm businesses where parents and children or siblings work together every day but a situation has emerged where they no longer talk to each other and, as time passes, things continue to deteriorate, affecting the business and the mental health of everyone involved.
“The pressure which builds can be immense and the outlook can start to look bleak, but the good news is mediation – which has an 80% success rate – can make a big difference in these situations. However, success depends on both parties being willing to take part in the process on a voluntary basis and having a shared wish to find a way to improve the situation.
“Very often misunderstandings are the result of poor communication which can be a key factor behind relationship breakdowns, and things can go into a downward spiral. In some cases if nothing is done things can get very serious indeed, but it is always possible to change the trajectory.
“By increasing awareness of the benefits of professional mediation we hope to find a way to improve the lives of many farming families. Mediation won’t work in every circumstance but it is definitely worth giving it a go and it is never, ever too late to try to improve a situation.”
The RSABI mediators come from a range of locations and backgrounds – from agricultural consultancy to banking – and all share a sound practical working knowledge of agriculture.
They have been trained by Sacro to the equivalent of SCQF level 6, accredited by Scottish Mediation, with many weeks of training covering areas such as conflict management, active listening, and how to create a safe space for clients to talk about what has been happening and explore how things can be moved forward.
Taking the first step towards mediation is very simple – all that is required is to contact RSABI’s free confidential support service, available 24 hours a day by calling 0808 1234 555. Alternatively you can get in touch via RSABI’s confidential webchat service or email helpline@rsabi.org.uk
More information is available on RSABI’s website https://www.rsabi.org.uk/mediators/