A NEW campaign aiming to prevent homelessness by stopping the breakdown of family relationships has been launched by three North Worcestershire charities.

Wyre Forest Nightstop, Redditch Nightstop and The Basement Project in Bromsgrove have come together to declare March as “Mediation Month”.

The campaign will aim to stop young people feeling the need to leave home when family relationships break down, with the charities offering to spread the message in schools.

Jackie Hooper of The Basement said: “All too often, by the time young people present at our services for help they have reached crisis point and the option to return home is not viable.

“We hope that by publicising mediation more widely during the month of March we can help both young people and parents/guardians to avoid this crisis.”

Staff from all three projects who carry out the mediation have been trained by UK Mediation, gaining the nationally recognised qualification to practice as mediators.

Susan Sadler of Redditch Nightstop said: “The service we offer is confidential, non-judgemental and independent of any other service.

“We speak to each of the parties involved individually and then carry out one or two joint sessions until the situation is resolved. This can be spread over two to three weeks.”

Judith Ford of Wyre Forest Nightstop added: “Mediation is a voluntary service where people involved in conflict are helped to resolve their problems collaboratively”. 

For more information, contact Wyre Forest Nightstop on 01562 743111, Redditch Nightstop on 01527 66036 or Bromsgrove’s The Basement Project on 01527 832993.