MACS group needs support of its own

The Mediation and Community Support service (MACS) has offered a range of mediation services for almost ten years but it was recently given the disappointing news it had been unsuccessful in gaining a further five years of Big lottery Funding.

The Rev Clive Fowle, chairman of the group, said: “The group has gone from strength to strength and as well as offering neighbourhood mediation we have offered peer mediation, young homelessness preventions mediation, parent/teacher mediation and training in constructive conflict resolution.

“Our services have been valued and are valuable but following this news we will have to draw in our horns and revert back to offering a basic mediation service until we have additional funds that will allow our extensive project work to continue”.

The group based at Jubilee House in Westlea Road, Leamington, will continue to support its volunteers to deliver the neighbour dispute mediation but it will have to close its office, make valued project staff redundant, find interim funding for the next six months to allow time to generate increase its income and find alternative long-term funding.

Committee members will be asking partners and anyone who has links to the group to help out financially and allow it time to plan for the future.

Changes to the benefits system, the withdrawal of legal aid and other issues could mean that mediation services will be needed more than ever before.

Committee member Jatinder Birdi said: “We are a saddened that we did not get any Lottery funding this time.

“We may be down but we are not yet out.”

Those who can offer funding, or any other support can call 424250 or email [email protected]