A new initiative will offer professional mediation training to people involved in Scottish agriculture with practical farming or crofting experience.
RSABI, the charity which supports people in Scottish agriculture, is supporting the training in a move to increase the number of professional mediators in Scotland with sound practical agricultural knowledge and hands-on experience.
The first course will take place in early 2026 over six dates in January (13, 23 and 27) and February (9, 16 and 23) delivered by the Scottish Community Mediation Centre.
The training, equivalent to SCQF level 6 and accredited by Scottish Mediation, will cost participants around £250 in total (excluding any travel expenses) and will be delivered via a combination of both online and in-person training days.
The course modules will include areas such as conflict management styles, effective listening, summarising, and questioning. The training will also cover the importance of being impartial, maintaining confidentiality, helping people decide, preparing for meetings, building and writing agreements and managing the discussion stage of a mediation meeting.
By the end of the course, participants can expect:
- to understand your own and others’ responses to conflict
- to recognize that there are different models and styles of mediation
- to be aware of the ethics informing mediation practice
- to appreciate the legal context in which mediation operates
- to know how current legislation affects mediation practice
- to understand the role of the mediator at different stages of the mediation process.
“We are aware there is real need for this service and while mediators without practical farming knowledge can do an excellent job, very often farming families respond more positively to someone who understands agriculture at a very practical level,” said Carol McLaren, Chief Executive of RSABI.
“A great many factors can result in pressure on family farm businesses and, particularly when you factor in worries about finance, change and the future, there is significant potential for conflict to build.
“Sadly this can result in the breakdown of relationships and result in conflict which can affect the performance and even viability of a farm business as well as making life miserable for those involved.
“Involving a professional mediator can help to move things forward and while there are many excellent mediators around the country, there are few who have the practical farming and crofting experience which many families considering this kind of support really value.”
RSABI’s free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls won’t show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk. The charity also offers emotional support calls to people who might be feeling low or lonely and these can be arranged by contacting their Helpline.
There are limited places available for the first course, costing £250 for each participant. For more information and to register interest please contact Lorraine.Caven@rsabi.org.uk