By Jo Freemantle , Portsmouth Mediation Service. A young family commissioned a local building company to complete an extension to their home. As the project progressed, delays and communication difficulties led to frustration on both sides. The homeowners felt stressed living in a building site with young children and worried about when the work would…
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By Katie Porter, Portsmouth Mediation Service . My work as an Assessment Officer with Portsmouth Mediation Service is aimed at helping neighbours who get caught up in conflict and disagreements to repair the harm and restore their relationships. It is extremely uplifting for me when I can help neighbours in difficult, challenging situations to better…
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By Sharon Court, Portsmouth City Council. I was in Tesco several months ago and as I turned into one of the chilled aisles, I saw a Mum and her young child on the floor by one of the fridges. Mum was on her knees and her child was standing up, so they were both at…
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By Sue Knight, The Aftershock Project. Growing up, I did not have the language for much of what I was witnessing around me. I grew up in an Armed Forces family. My father served as a bomb disposal operator in Northern Ireland, my mother served, and later my brother also deployed overseas. Like many military…
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By Sally Zurita, Bailando with Sally. As a Bolivian woman who migrated to the UK, I experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to rebuild identity, connection, and emotional wellbeing in a new environment. Throughout my life, dance and art became more than creative expression — they became tools for healing, resilience, and belonging. What…
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