latest press release

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

20.05.10 – For immediate release

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Coalition Statement Welcomed 

The Centre for Separated Families has broadly welcomed the new coalition government's plans on the family.

The Centre, which works to help parents build co-operative relationships after separation, believes that the plans suggest a more inclusive approach.

The charity's Director Karen Woodall says: 

‘We welcome the emphasis on shared parenting and on the continued involvement of both parents after separation. Children deserve a relationship with both of their parents and we need services that will support families through the difficult transitions that separation brings.'

Whilst welcoming the statement as a sign that the government intends to bring a fresh approach to family separation, the charity urged the coalition to think even more radically. 

Mrs Woodall said: 

‘One of the biggest challenges that separating parents face is working within a system that divides them into the parent with care and the non resident parent. It means that all of the support is offered to one parent and non to the other. We need to lose those labels.'

Mrs Woodall went on:

'We will be continuing to argue for a whole family approach that would support both mums and dads to have a positive and meaningful input into their children's lives. We will also be urging the government to drop terms such as access and contact because they serve only to increase the divisions between parents. What they need is help to build respectful post separation relationships that are framed around their children's changing needs.'

Ends.

Notes to the editor:

The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation. 

The Centre offers information, support and advice to mothers and fathers, whatever their parenting status, and has a range of innovative education programmes to support co-operative parenting.

The Centre for Separated Families works with Government and other agencies to help deliver best practice in services delivered to separated families.

The Centre has a research programme and aims to inform and influence public policy through this and its direct work with families.

The Centre co-ordinates the European Network on Shared Parenthood.