Time2Talk Celebrates BBC Children in Need Grant for Youth Mediation Services Across East Sussex
Time2Talk Intergenerational Mediation is celebrating a major milestone, having been awarded £92,533 in funding from BBC Children in Need over three years. The grant will allow Time2Talk to further develop its service in response to local needs, with a specific focus on reaching young people in small coastal and rural communities across East Sussex.
Time2Talk is an early intervention mediation service that provides young people aged 11 to 18 with a safe, confidential, and impartial environment to communicate with family members or carers. The service specialises in situations where communication or a relationship has broken down, or there is disagreement about issues affecting family members. By working with trained volunteer mediators, every party involved is supported to rebuild relationships and identify constructive ways forward.
The BBC Children in Need funding represents a meaningful investment in the wellbeing of young people living in smaller communities that have historically had limited access to this kind of support. Time2Talk has already begun developing partnerships with communities in Rye and Battle, with plans to increase awareness of the service in other areas, including Polegate, Heathfield, Alfriston, Buxted, Forest Row, Burwash, and Burwash Common.
As part of this service, Time2Talk will build partnerships, deliver talks to local groups and school assemblies to raise awareness of the support available. It will recruit and train volunteer mediators from rural areas, as well as offering free mediation services for young people aged 11 to 18 and their family networks. The organisation looks forward to continuing to shape and deliver its service in direct response to the requirements of the communities it serves.
“We are delighted to have been awarded funding from BBC Children in Need and look forward to building relationships with partners in the more rural and coastal parts of East Sussex to make sure families experiencing conflict are aware of our service and can access it as an early intervention. Receiving this kind of longer-term funding is significant for our charity, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone involved in the grant giving process. This funding will make a real difference to so many people” – Alice Matthews, Chief Executive
Those interested in finding out more about the service are encouraged to get in touch at time2talk@mediation-plus.org.uk or to visit our webpage for more information and to make a referral. You can also make a donation to the charity using the ‘donate’ page on our website.
About Mediation Plus
Mediation Plus is a charity based in Sussex that has been supporting people experiencing conflict or communication difficulties since 1995. Its services span family, intergenerational, neighbourhood, workplace, and bespoke mediation, as well as one-to-one support. The organisation operates as an independent, impartial third party, and is committed to the values of listening, understanding, and being heard. For more information, visit mediation-plus.org.uk.