Focus on mediation

The UK's first university-based mediation clinic will be launched by Canterbury Christ Church University in January. The clinic, which is backed by Canterbury County Court, has received an £18,000 cash injection from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, and services will be free of charge to many local residents. The clinic will be part of the university's new Centre for Law and Dispute Resolution and will be run by members of centre staff who are trained and accredited mediators. The mediators will be supported by students who are studying in the Department of Crime and Policing Studies.