Ever wished someone would wave a magic wand and make your troubles disappear?

For many young people involved in conflicts or bullying at school, mediator Caroline McInnes has the amazing ability to do just that - proving time and time again her uncanny knack of terminating classroom spats and nullifying playground conflicts.

“They call her the lady that does the magic,” said Annette Hinton, manager of Maidstone Mediation, where Mrs McInnes, 56, has helped people resolve disputes for the past eight years.

In recent years, the mediator has taken on the extra responsibility of working with schools and has since become a well-known face among the students of Maidstone.

It is for her devotion to this work that her manager has nominated her for a Pride of Maidstone Award.

Writing to the Kent Messenger her manager said: “On Caroline’s wall is the following saying: ‘Fifty years from now, it will not matter what kind of car you drove, what kind of home you lived in, how much money you had in your bank account, but the world may be a little better because you were important in the life of a child.’ This philosophy epitomises Caroline’s attitude.

“She never says no. She’s such a good person.”

Mrs McInnes said: “I’m fortunate in that I can see other people’s point of view and I work quite well with young people.

“I’ve got children myself and I think young people are brilliant.”

She said was happy to receive the award as it would help publicise the work of the mediation centre.

For a Pride of Maidstone nomination form, clink the link just below our 150 anniversary logo on the Kent Messenger home page