A CHARITY which helps families in dispute over a separation or divorce is worried not enough people are seeking them out for advice.

The services of Family Mediation are available to people living in the Vale of Glamorgan, either at a satellite office in Barry or its main base in Cardiff.

A change in the law, which came in on Tuesday, April 22, means it will be compulsory for people to attend a Mediation Information and Assessment Meeting (MIAM) before they can apply for a court order in matters relating to child contact, finance and property matters following a separation or divorce.

A spokesman for the charity says: "The reforms set out in Clause 10 of the Children and Families Bill have been brought in following several failed attempts by the government to convince more separating couples to use mediation before resorting to the family courts following the removal of Legal Aid from solicitors in April last year.

"As a service, we have witnessed that people are still unaware that Legal Aid is still available in mediation (which can also cover some solicitor costs) and that this Law is coming into effect very soon."

The charity, which has been in existence for more than 30 years, has a website, www.familymediationcardiff.co.uk, which gives more information about its service or call 029 2022 9692.