To be a Community Accord volunteer mediator, we ask you to commit yourself to serve people in Bradford District for one year. Your one-year mediation development programme consists of the following;
40 hours intensive training
You will begin the programme by attending a five-day intensive mediation course, Monday 17th September to Friday 21st September 2007. The course will be led by Jon Townsend and Stan Sitnick from Portland, Oregon, and you are in for a treat. Jon and Stan have 50 years combined mediation experience and have delivered training together for the last 10 years, and these are just a couple of quotes from previous Community Accord volunteers;
“Engaging, empowering and memorable”
“The mediation training was well structured, informative and participative with informal style. Overall an excellent learning opportunity and experience”
“They gave very comprehensive training”
“It’s a boost to your CV”
Attendance at all five days is compulsory, so clear the diary now!
Weekly 3-hour practical session
Following the five-day introductory course, you will begin to attend your weekly 3-hour practical mediation session at either our Bradford or Keighley office. The sessions will take place;
Mondays 6pm - 9pm (Bradford)
Tuesdays 12pm - 3pm (Bradford)
Tuesdays 3pm - 6pm (Bradford)
Thursdays 6pm - 9pm (Keighley)
Fridays 10am – 1pm (Bradford)
During your weekly session, you support people in real disputes and receive further training. You call people in dispute to find out what their issues are and if appropriate, you seek to bring them together for a face-to-face meeting to talk the issues through. If you do get parties to agree to attend a joint meeting, your weekly three-hour commitment will be spent facilitating this joint meeting with a co-mediator, in a neutral venue that is convenient to the parties.
Your full commitment to your weekly practical session is absolutely vital and non-negotiable, as it ensures your development as a mediator and the level of service and support your parties deserve. Obviously, we all have holidays and fall ill from time to time, but before you apply, ask yourself “will I be able to attend my chosen practical session consistently throughout the year, and will I be able to give 100% to my parties and my fellow mediators?”
Follow-up phone calls
The vast majority of your volunteering will be covered by your weekly 3-hour commitment. However, there may be weeks, where you need to make additional phone calls to the parties, the office or a venue, not least to arrange and confirm joint mediation sessions. These calls will naturally be reimbursed. You've got to be committed to take care of your parties and give them the best service possible, and this involves a willingness to talk to them outside of you normal volunteer session if necessary.
Before you apply, ask yourself, “do my work, family and other voluntary commitments allow me the opportunity, time and energy to make phone calls outside of my normal volunteer session?” If not, think about how you could create that space, or consider applying next year, when you might have more time.
However, if you can commit the time for the initial 40-hour training, the weekly 3-hour commitment and the occasional extra phone calls, and you have a real commitment to learning and to serving others, then fill in the online application form below. You will be part of an amazing team of people!!
The closing date for application is Friday 10th August 2007
