Helping families see the bigger picture. So they can rise above.
Separation and divorce are hard. But how you get through it can make a real difference to you, your finances and your children.
At Kite Family Mediation we help families navigate a path together without the cost and stress of going to court.
What is mediation?
When you're in the middle of it all, clarity can be hard to come by. That's where we come in.
When a relationship ends, it can feel like the only path forward is through a courtroom. But for most families, it doesn't have to be that way. Family mediation gives you and your ex-partner a safe, supported space to talk through the things that matter most — children, finances, the family home — helping you to reach a mutual agreement.
Going to court can take months or even years. It's expensive, emotionally draining and takes major decisions out of your hands. Mediation keeps you in control in a number of different ways:
Much faster
Most couples reach agreement in 2–4 sessions, not months in court
Significantly cheaper
A fraction of the cost of contested legal proceedings
You stay in control
Agreements are made by you, not imposed by a judge
Better for children
Less conflict means better outcomes for the whole family
Confidential
What's said in mediation stays in mediation
Flexible
Sessions are arranged around you, in-person or online
Services
We offer two core services: the initial MIAM meeting, and full mediation for families working through separation. Both are available in-person or online, and are designed to fit around you.
The MIAM
A Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) is your starting point — a one-to-one conversation with a mediator, either online or in person, usually lasting 45 to 60 minutes.
It's your opportunity to share what's been happening, ask any questions, and get a clearer picture of whether mediation is the right path for you. There's no commitment required at this stage.
If you need to attend a MIAM before applying to court, you'll receive the appropriate documentation once your session has ended.
There are no wrong answers.
A MIAM isn't a test. It's a relaxed, confidential conversation where you're free to talk openly about your circumstances, what matters most to you, and what you're hoping to resolve.
What you can expect
Your mediator will listen to your situation and help you understand:
What your options look like from here
How mediation works and what to expect from joint sessions
How any agreements reached are recorded and made legally effective
From there, you'll leave with a much clearer sense of the path ahead — and whether mediation is the right fit for you.
Family Mediation
Family mediation sessions are where the real work happens. With both parties present (either in the same room or online), your mediator helps you work through the issues that need resolving calmly, fairly, and at a pace that suits you.
Children and parenting arrangements
Where will the children live? How will school holidays be divided? How do you handle big decisions about their upbringing? These are often the most emotionally charged conversations of all — and exactly the kind where having a skilled, neutral mediator in the room makes a real difference.
Finances and property
Dividing up shared finances, the family home, pensions and savings requires clear heads and honest conversation. Mediation creates a space where that can happen, without the legal fees of doing it through solicitors alone.
How many sessions will I need?
Most couples reach a full agreement within 2–4 sessions, each lasting around 90 minutes. Every situation is different, and we'll always work at a pace that feels right for your family.
What happens to our agreement?
Any agreements reached in mediation can be drawn up into a Memorandum of Understanding, which your solicitors can then turn into a legally binding order if you'd like one.
Costs
MIAM (online):
£150 per hour per person
Family Mediation (online):
£175 per person, per 90 minute session
For in-person sessions, please request a quote.
Our fees are payable by bank transfer or credit/debit card at the time of booking. Please note our fees are non-refundable in the event of cancellation or postponement at less than 48 hours notice.
We do not currently accept Legal Aid cases. If you think you may qualify for Legal Aid, contact National Family Mediation who may be able to help.
About
Meet Leigh Holdway
“I spent twenty years working in advertising — an industry full of stakeholders with competing expectations, different pressures, and their own ways of seeing the world. Over time I realised that learning to navigate those differences, and finding common ground was actually the most valuable thing I'd taken from it. When I discovered family mediation, it felt like the natural place to put those skills to better use.
As the founder and owner of Kite Family Mediation, I'm not here to judge, and I definitely don't take sides. What I do is create a calm, steady environment where people feel safe enough to say what they actually need to say — and to start finding a way through. I'm naturally easy-going and hard to rattle, but also direct and willing to hold firm when a situation calls for it. Both matter.
Most of all, I care about helping families come through this in the best shape possible. Separation’s hard enough, after all.
I’m more than just a mediator though. In my spare time I like to play chess, walk dogs and watch too much football.”
Credentials
“I completed my foundation training in Family Mediation through Ataraxy, I’m registered with The College of Mediators, and work in accordance with the standards of the Family Mediation Council (FMC). I carry full professional indemnity insurance.”
Let’s start talking
Because it all begins with a conversation
Whether you have questions, want to book a MIAM, or just want to talk through whether mediation might be right for you, get in touch. There's no commitment and no pressure, just a friendly conversation.
Email
kitefamilymediation@gmail.com or complete the form.
Phone
07417 568808
Location
Based in Berkshire. Appointments in-person or online.
Hours
Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm. Evenings and weekends by arrangement.
FAQs
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Mediation itself is always voluntary. But most divorcing and separating couples in England and Wales who want to go to court must first show they've attended a MIAM. If you try mediation and it doesn't work, you won't be asked to explain why, or who ended it.
At Kite Family Mediation, we offer the practical help, information and compassion you may need at a difficult time.
It's an increasingly popular alternative to asking a court to make decisions for your family. It works by helping you find practical solutions that feel fair to you both.
Mediation isn't about getting back together. It's a chance to talk directly to each other, with the guidance of a trained professional, and work out what matters most to you both going forward.
Family mediation is…
Voluntary
Impartial
Confidential
Focused on your children
Future focused
A process where you make the decisions
Family mediation is not…
Counselling or therapy
Marriage guidance
A substitute for legal advice
An opportunity to impose your view on your former partner
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Step one: the MIAM
Every mediation starts with a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) — a one-to-one meeting with one of our Berkshire-based mediators, held in person or online. In this meeting, we'll:
Ask about your personal circumstances
Explain how mediation works
Talk through the alternatives available to you
Decide together whether mediation is right for you
Then, mediation itself
Mediation typically takes 2 to 4 sessions, depending on your circumstances. Together, you and your former partner will explore the options available to resolve the issues between you.
Mediation isn't a substitute for legal advice, and we'd encourage you to get some independent legal advice alongside it, to help you weigh up your options.
It's also a confidential process. That means you can speak freely and explore all the options, knowing that if mediation doesn't work out, nothing discussed can be used against you in court.
At Kite Family Mediation, we offer the practical help, information and compassion you may need at a difficult time.
It's an increasingly popular alternative to asking a court to make decisions for your family. It works by helping you find practical solutions that feel fair to you both.
Mediation isn't about getting back together. It's a chance to talk directly to each other, with the guidance of a trained professional, and work out what matters most to you both going forward.
Family mediation is…
Voluntary
Impartial
Confidential
Focused on your children
Future focused
A process where you make the decisions
Family mediation is not…
Counselling or therapy
Marriage guidance
A substitute for legal advice
An opportunity to impose your view on your former partner
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No — mediation itself is always voluntary. But most divorcing and separating couples in England and Wales who want to go to court must first show they've attended a MIAM. If you try mediation and it doesn't work, you won't be asked to explain why, or who ended it.
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You have more say. In court, a judge decides. In mediation, you and your former partner do.
It's less stressful.
If you have children, we can help you find ways to keep parenting together well.
It supports the relationships that matter — for you and your wider family.
It can improve how you communicate with your ex-partner.
It's quicker and cheaper, helping you move forward with your life sooner.
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Going to court, or arbitration, hands the decisions to someone else. Family mediation recognises that you are the experts on your own family, and leaves the decisions with you.
Rather than negotiating through lawyers, mediation lets you speak directly to each other — to explain how you feel and what matters most. That keeps the focus on the issues that really matter to your family, with your mediator offering impartial guidance, legal information, and help testing your ideas against reality.
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Talking about what happens after a separation or divorce can be stressful and upsetting. Mediation gives you a safe space to work through differences at your own pace.
Our mediators are trained to look out for signs of domestic abuse or anything else that might make things especially difficult. If we don't believe you'll be safe, we won't proceed with joint mediation — and we can offer shuttle mediation if being in the same room feels like too much.
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Here are some of the issues we deal with every day:
Where children will live, and with whom
Arrangements for children to spend time with both parents
Communication between parents
Health issues
Handovers
Schooling and out-of-school activities
Holidays and special days (birthdays, Christmas, and so on)
Parenting plans
Religious and cultural issues
Maintenance — who pays what, how much, and for how long
Extended family and friendships
Step-family issues
Relocation abroad, and how to protect a child's relationship with family who stay behind
Changes to arrangements as children grow up
The family home — including the mortgage or rental agreement, and its contents
Cars and other valuable items
Bank accounts, building society accounts and savings
Pensions and insurance policies
Your divorce
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The Family Mediation Council (FMC) is a not-for-profit organisation that maintains a professional register of family mediators. It doesn't provide mediation itself, or recommend any particular provider.
Every FMC Registered Mediator is trained to a set standard. They:
Follow the FMC's Code of Practice
Hold relevant insurance
Carry out ongoing training and professional development
Receive proper supervision and support
Are required to have a complaints process
The Family Mediation Standards Board (FMSB) operates independently of the FMC, running its registration and accreditation processes, along with its complaints and disciplinary appeals process.