Local mediation business scoops national award

Tuesday 25 October 2016

Jersey’s only private mediation practice has won a prestigious award at the National Mediation Awards 2016.

Alternative Resolutions (AR) picked up the Rising Star Award, given to new businesses who set high quality foundations and standards.

The Jersey company also achieved a Highly Commended in the Family Mediator Award recognising the achievement of AR Managing Director Clair Cousins who is a lead mediator with particular expertise in family conflict resolution. She was commended for her passion, commitment to high standards and ethical practice.

The awards ceremony, organised by the Professional Mediators’ Association (PMA), was held in London at Browns, Covent Garden.

15 awards were announced at the ceremony including the President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement. All PMA members on a national scale were entitled to enter and nominate each other and the shortlist was scrutinised by an intensive judging process.

PMA's David Liddell said: "Judges have been impressed by how Clair Cousins / Alternative Resolutions have created an innovative culture and demonstrated commitment to driving the standards of mediation up in the Channel Islands through championing what the PMA stands for.

"The enthusiasm and dedication for implementing a professional standard to which mediators can work towards demonstrates how they have set the foundations for becoming an excellent organisation and that is why they have been awarded the Rising Star Award 2016."

Alternative Resolutions' Managing Director Clair Cousins said: "The award and commendation are hugely important to us as they show our unfailing commitment to meeting and exceeding standards in our sector. There has been no specific benchmark in Jersey previously that a client could use to assess the quality of a mediator and we are committed to continually improving this and working towards clearly articulated standards for clients in all sectors.

"The recognition from the National Mediation Awards 2016 is something we have worked very hard for and goes a long way to consolidating the governance and performance level we wish to set for the industry in the Channel Islands."