11:27am Thursday 2nd July 2009
By Jo Winrow
Bradford’s neighbourhood mediation service – the largest of its kind in the country – is in need of volunteers to help resolve disputes.
Community Accord was set up following the 2001 riots to help resolve conflict with the aid of Government funding.
Two years ago the service appealed for volunteers to help it expand to double the size as demand had grown.
Now officials are looking for residents to come forward again and take part in a five-day training course starting in August.
Simon Binks completed the training course in 2006, and now works with Community Accord as a staff coach. He said: “Community Accord is fulfilling an important role in Bradford – training people how to resolve and prevent conflict and, in so doing, helping people in the district resolve their own disputes.
“People who have been through the programme often talk about how they can apply the communication skills learned in mediation to help in many aspects of their life, family and work.”
The course will take place over five days between August 24 and September 2 and is the start of six months of volunteering with the mediation programme.
Training volunteers can then apply to be an advanced mediator for a further six months.
After the course, residents will be expected to volunteer three hours a week as mediators in actual disputes taking place across the district.
Community Accord helps in disputes over issues such as noise, parking and hedges and larger neighbourhood problems such as the use of a school or community centre.
For details, contact Lorrainne Knott on (01274) 431190 or bca@post.com, or visit communityaccord.com
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