Between them, Cunninghame Housing Association, Shire Housing, Riverside Scotland and Atrium Homes provide over 7,000 homes in the Ayrshires. 

The six-day Mediation Skills course was commissioned by Cunninghame Housing Association and will be delivered in February 2026. As part of the commissioning process, the course has been tailored to respond to the client’s training needs and will be delivered in a hybrid format, with some delivery being in-person and some online.

One of the key principles of mediation is impartiality, and the model of delivery chosen acknowledges this by having an inter-association basis. It is planned that these eight trained housing officers will mediate with clients outwith their own caseload. This follows existing best practice in the community mediation setting. 

The Scottish Community Mediation Centre was developed by the community justice organisation, Sacro, and has been delivering its six-day Mediation Skills course for over 24 years, to staff from more than 150 organisations.

The course has been popular with local authorities, public bodies, third sector organisations as well as the business sector, in that it provides staff with the tools and knowledge to resolve conflict effectively and without the need for external agencies. The training takes learners through all stages of the mediation process and provides a practical and interactive way of learning. 

SCMC training programmes are accredited by Scottish Mediation and designed to meet the highest standards of mediation practice. SCMC is an associate member of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations.