press archive

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

19.01.10 – For immediate release

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Tax system should recognise both parents

A leading charity has called for parenting to be recognised in the tax system even after parents have divorced or separated.

The Centre for Separated Families, a charity that works to help parents build co-operative relationships after separation, believes that the tax system could help bring about better outcomes for children.

The charity's Director Karen Woodall says:

‘We believe that a recognition of parenthood through the tax and benefits system should be available to both parents after family separation. This would acknowledge and reward the ongoing responsibility of both mothers and fathers.'

The call comes as all the political parties debate family policy ahead of this year's general election.

Ms Woodall said:

‘A recognition and support of both mum and dad's input would signal to families that both parents are an essential part of children's lives and will result in higher levels of ongoing engagement.'

Currently, financial support such as Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits can only be paid to one household regardless of the parenting arrangements that may have been made.

Ms Woodall commented:

‘Our work, over the years, has shown us, time and again, that providing support to just one parent after separation gives both cause and permission for parents to disengage from their families.'

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 for Separated Families worked with the Department for Work and Pensions in helping to create the Child Maintenance Options service.

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

16.11.09 – For immediate release

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Mishcon de Reya survey highlights need for better services

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families, believes that the results of a new survey on divorce and separation highlight the need for better services to help families in crisis.

The research, carried out by law firm Mishcon de Reya to mark the twentieth anniversary of the Children Act 1989, suggests that the adversarial nature of divorce leads to poorer outcomes for children.

It also reveals that up to a third of children surveyed lose contact with their fathers after a divorce.

Commenting on the survey Ms Woodall said:

‘The results of this survey reflect our own experiences at the Centre for Separated Families. Too few families have access the kinds of support that can help them deal with the anxiety, hurt and anger that often accompanies separation in ways that would allow them to build co-operative post separation parenting relationships.'

The Centre for Separated Families has pioneered new ways of working with separated families and believes that the key to producing better outcomes for children is to deliver support to both parents in ways that reflect their different experiences.

Ms Woodall said:

‘What we know is that parents encounter services that encourage them to behave in an adversarial manner. Our experience is that, if you offer services that are respectful, empathic and child centred, it is possible to help parents to build better futures for their children.'

Ms Woodall pointed to Government's Child Maintenance Options service as an example of how new statutory services can work:

‘Child Maintenance Options is a fantastic illustration of how information and support that is delivered in the right way can make a difference. Here is a service that is available equally to mums and dads, a service that is accessible, empathic and empowering. Services delivered in this way say to parents that they are both valuable, that their needs and experiences are understood and that it is possible to reach agreement with each other about their children's wellbeing.'

Ends.

Notes to the editor:

Child Maintenance Options is an information and support service offered by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission

www.cmoptions.org

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

27.01.09 – For immediate release

________________________________________________________

Parents need fewer clichés and more support says charity

A leading charity has described proposals to introduce new powers to seize passports and driving licences from so-called “absent parents” as disappointing.

The Department for Work and Pensions said the proposals contained in the Welfare Reform Bill would be a "last resort" if other sanctions failed. However, the Centre for Separated Families, which works with families who are going through separation says that the Government appears to be falling back on outdated stereotypes.

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:

“Many of the parents who call our helpline are providing all of the day-to-day care and not being supported financially and they do need effective action. But many more are trying to sort out arrangements in very difficult circumstances. This is a very complex area and announcements like these may sound tough but actually do nothing to tackle the real issues around family separation and children's wellbeing.”

The Centre is also critical of the way the proposed powers will be used by the Child Maintenance Commission, the body responsible for collecting statutory child maintenance.

Ms Woodall said:

“It is deeply worrying that it will be civil servants rather than the judiciary who will implement such decisions. We're talking about a system that is riddled with administrative errors, unrealistic demands for payment and an inability to take personal circumstances into consideration. It is a key principle that people should have the right to a judicial rather than administrative process.”

She went on:

“What the Government should be concentrating on is ensuring that couples don't get into entrenched positions in the first place. Parents need more and better advice and support as they go through separation, not tough sounding headlines.”

The Centre for Separated Families believes that the Department for Work and Pensions' new Child Maintenance Options service offers a glimpse of how wider support services could operate. Under new rules that came into effect in November, all parents can make their own child maintenance arrangements. The Options service is intended to provide impartial support and information to help them.

Ms Woodall said:

“Child Maintenance Options is providing the kind of impartial, non-judgemental, empathic support that helps parents to discharge their responsibilities after separation. It's not about “lone parents” or “absent fathers”, it's about working with parents to look at the positive choices that they can make for their children. That's what brings about lasting change.”

The Welfare Reform Bill had its second reading today.

Ends.

Further information: 07771 854 792

Notes to the editor:

The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation. It was established in 1973.

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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on delivering consultancy, training and material for its new Child Maintenance Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

18.12.2008 – Embargo 00:01 18 December 2008

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Relationship Summit must offer real change

The Centre for Separated Families is delighted that today's Relationship Summit will highlight the need for better services for separating families but fears that the Government may shy away from a radical shift in policy.

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:

'It's fantastic that Ed Balls has called this summit, but there is a danger that it may be a lost opportunity. We need to see more than a continuation of the same old models with a few bolt-on services for fathers.'

The Centre also fears that charities working with family separation, themselves, may not be ready to embrace the kinds of fundamental change that would bring about a real difference in the experiences of children and parents going through divorce and separation.

Ms Woodall said:

'As long as there is the stereotype of the "lone parent", around whom all support is based, we will continue to fail children. It's only by understanding the real dynamics of family separation that we can truly begin to make a difference for children.'

She went on:

'When we began working with both mothers and fathers, a decade ago, we were told that it wasn't either possible or even desirable. But the evidence has shown that it makes a real difference for children. It's about understanding the different experiences of mothers and fathers and building holistic services to support both to continue discharging their parenting responsibilities.'

The Centre for Separated Families believes that the Department for Work and Pensions' new Child Maintenance Options service offers a glimpse of how wider support services could operate.

Ms Woodall said:

'Child Maintenance Options is providing the kind of impartial, non-judgemental, empathic support that helps parents to move away from rights based thinking and towards finding a more co-operative way forward. It's not about "lone parents" or "absent fathers", it's about working with parents to look at the positive choices that they can make for their children. That's what brings about lasting change.'

The Centre for Separated Families' Putting Children First: best practice in support to separated families conference in October brought together Stephen Geraghty, the Commissioner for Child Maintenance, and Cafcass Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas.

A recommendations document that came out of the conference called for gender-proofed services that would support post separation arrangements. It also proposed a national hub to link up existing services and research into what support might help parents resolve difficulties before they reach the point of separation.

Ends.

Further information: 07771 854 792

Notes to the editor:

The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation. It was established in 1973.

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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on delivering consultancy, training and material for its new Child Maintenance Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

The Centre for Separated Families website: http://www.separatedfamilies.org.uk/

Best Practice website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

28.10.2008 – For immediate release

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Child maintenance changes will bring better outcomes for children

Changes to child maintenance rules could help parents to work together after family separation rather than driving them further apart, according to a leading charity.

The Centre for Separated Families believes that allowing parents to reach private arrangements rather than being forced into the statutory scheme will help them to reach agreements that suit their own particular circumstances.

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:

“Under the old CSA rules, many parents were forced into maintenance arrangements that didn't take account of individual circumstances and often increased conflict between parents. The new rules allow those parents who are able to work together the chance to do what they believe is right for their children and can help to develop new co-operative ways of working.”

The Centre believes that the Child Maintenance Options service, which will deliver impartial and empathic support to both parents, is crucial to the success of the the new scheme.

Ms Woodall said:

“The Options service will, for the first time, offer both parents information and support to make the right choices for their children. For too long, we've supported one parent to the exclusion of the other. This just widens the gap between parents at a time when they need to be putting their children first.”

She went on:

“All the evidence points to the fact that supporting the whole family brings better outcomes for children. The Options service aims to do that and will give both mothers and fathers the kind of help they need at a crucial time.”

Responding to concerns that the changes will leave parents with the majority care of their children under pressure to agree to inappropriate arrangements, Ms Woodall said:

“We recognise some of the concerns raised by organisations representing single parents and will work with the Commission to gather information about how the changes affect families. But there remains a statutory scheme for those parents who are unable, or choose not, to make a private arrangement.

“We need to offer support where parents feel vulnerable but believe that most parents, given the right kind of support and information, can and will make arrangements that will work.”

The Centre for Separated Families recently held the Putting Children First: best practice in support to separated families conference in London which brought together Stephen Geraghty, the Commissioner for Child Maintenance, and Cafcass Chief Executive, Anthony Douglas. The conference, which was attended by 200 leading policy makers, practitioners and academics looked at recent initiatives to support families dealing with separation.

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. It was established in 1973.

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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on delivering consultancy, training and material for its new Child Maintenance Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

Further information: 07771 854 792

The Centre for Separated Families website: http://www.separatedfamilies.org.uk/

Best Practice website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

15.10.2008 – For immediate release

_______________________________________________________________

Children who come from separated families where there is conflict are less likely to want children of their own according to a survey.

The true emotional cost of parental separation emerged in a report which revealed children's' scars linger long after the event and can affect their school performance.

It also emerged that kids who see their parents breakup are more likely not to want children of their own in the future.

Researchers also found children whose mum and dad split are more likely to struggle to ﬁnd true happiness in their own lives.

Karen Woodall, Director for The Centre for Separated Families, which commissioned the ‘Happiness, hopes and wellbeing’ study of 1,000 children under the age of 15 said:

'We recognise that there are many situations where one parent is left alone to provide everything that children need, however, we also recognise that the children who do best after family separation are those that have a strong and positive input from both parents.

‘Both parents need to identify their children’s needs and work out the best way to contribute to providing for them’

The study was carried out to coincide with the Best Practice in Supporting Separated
Families Conference which is being held in London with contributions from the new Child Maintenance Commissioner Stephen Geraghty, Anthony Douglas, CEO of Cafcass and the Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP.

It asked children from separated and settled households to gauge their personal happiness on a scale of one to ten.

Those from families where mum and dad now live apart scored signiﬁcantly lower than those from settled homes.

And only three quarters said their relationships with their parents were good while 93 per cent of children whose parents were still together said the same thing.

It also emerged that one in four kids from a separated family don't consider themselves to be happy compared to only one in ten from a stable home.

Ms Woodall continued:

’The absence of conﬂict is key to children’s wellbeing and we know that parents need help to resolve difficult issues and build new cooperative relationships.’

The Best Practice in Support to Separated Families Conference brings together experts to find new ways to support separated families to bring about better outcomes for children.

Seminars will consider all the important issues, child maintenance, parenting arrangements and how to help children to enjoy relationships with both of their parents.

Stephen Geraghty, the Commissioner for Child Maintenance said:

‘The Commission has been tasked with offering information and support on the different child maintenance options available to parents. This conference will allow us to talk about the work of the Commission and listen to key stakeholders working in the field of family separation.’

Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass said:

‘Services like therapeutic mediation, child counselling, family group conferencing and parenting information classes, can help parents and children to move on together - rather than parents moving on and children left emotionally stranded.’

The Centre for Separated Families helps parents to build cooperative relationships so that they can help their children to adjust to the change.

Ms Woodall concluded:

‘It is a sad fact that children are affected in many different ways when their parents decide to separate. We want to make things easier for children and easier for parents too.’

‘We know that children wish their parents would stay together and we also know that for many parents that just isn't possible. But by helping parents to understand how their children feel we can help them to stop ﬁghting and start talking again which is crucial if children are going to adapt well.’

The study also revealed that 14 per cent of kids wanted their parents to live together even if they didn’t get on that well.

ENDS

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 cooperative 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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on its new Child Maintenance Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792

Child Maintenance Commission contact: MILES.FLETCHER@CHILDMAINTENANCE.GSI.GOV.UK

Cafcass contact:
Takki.Sulaiman@CAFCASS.GOV.UK

Conference website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

03.09.2008 – For immediate release

_______________________________________________________________

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith to join Stephen Geraghty and Anthony Douglas at landmark conference

The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP is the latest high profile speaker to be named by the Centre for Separated Families for its national conference in October.

Mr Duncan Smith will join Stephen Geraghty, Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, and Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass, as a keynote speaker at the conference, entitled Best Practice in Support to Separated Families: Putting Children First.

The conference brings together leading policy makers and practitioners from across Government departments, academia and the third sector to share best practice and expertise.

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:

‘We are absolutely delighted to have Mr Duncan Smith as one of our guest speakers. He is one of the most highly respected thinkers on family policy in this country and we can be sure that what he has to say will really add to the debate.’

‘We know from our work with separated families that mothers, fathers and children urgently need support, both at the point of separation and far beyond. We also know that government is working hard to understand and deliver what families really need.

‘The Conference is an opportunity for key policy makers and practitioners to come together to deepen that understanding and share best practice. Mr Duncan Smith’s contribution can only strengthen that.’

The conference, which will be held at Dexter House in London on 16 October 2008, will have a number of places reserved for representatives from all sectors including parents and children themselves.

Ms Woodall added:

‘This feels like a turning point in the way that we support separated families in the UK. Our aim is to show that supporting mothers and fathers, as well as grandparents and other relatives, brings better outcomes for children.’

As well as the key speakers, the conference will be hosting a wide range of seminars where ideas and best practice will be shared. A panel debate and question time with leading policy makers and practitioners will round off the day which will be recorded in sound and pictures to mark the importance of the event.

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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on its new Child Maintenace Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792
Website: http://www.puttingchildrenfirst.info/

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

09.08.2008 – For immediate release

_______________________________________________________________

Stephen Geraghty and Anthony Douglas to speak at landmark CSF conference

The Centre for Separated Families confirmed, today, that the key speakers at its October conference are Stephen Geraghty, Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, and Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass.

The conference, entitled Putting Children First: best practice in support to separated families, brings together leading policy makers and practitioners from across Government departments, academia and the third sector to share best practice and expertise.

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:

‘We are delighted to be bringing together at our conference, the key people who are changing the way we deal with family separation in the UK. We know from our work with separated families that mothers, fathers and children urgently need support, both at the point of separation and far beyond. We also know that government is working hard to understand and deliver what families really need. The Conference is an opportunity for key policy makers and practitioners to come together to deepen that understanding and share best practice.

The conference, which will be held at Dexter House in London on 16 October 2008 will have a number of places reserved for representatives from all sectors including parents and children themselves.

‘Places are very limited. Clearly, lots of people want to be at such a landmark conference. This feels like a turning point in the way that we support separated families in the UK ,’ added Karen, ‘our aim is to show that supporting mothers and fathers, as well as grandparents and other relatives, brings better outcomes for children.’

As well as the key speakers, the conference will be hosting a wide range of seminars where ideas and best practice will be shared. A panel debate and question time with leading policy makers and practitioners will round off the day which will be recorded in sound and pictures to mark the importance of the event.

General booking is available from 25 August 2008.

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 for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on its new Child Maintenace Options service.

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

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792

The Centre for Separated Families

PRESS RELEASE

15.07.2008 – For immediate release

_______________________________________________________________

‘Kids in the Middle’ CSF response to campaign

Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families, has welcomed the new initiative launched by a number of UK charities calling for a debate on family separation.

Commenting on the campaign Ms Woodall said:

‘I’m delighted that this subject is being highlighted because, for too many children in this country, family separation means the end of their relationship with one of their parents.’

The Centre for Separated Families has pioneered new ways of working with separated families and is currently working closely with a number of government departments to develop new services that are impartial and accessible to both parents.

Karen said:

‘Most services and support groups in the UK are aimed at either mothers or fathers. When we first started working with both mothers and fathers, people said that it couldn’t be done.'

'But all the evidence shows that the children of those parents who are able to cooperate after separation will have better outcomes. We need to help parents to achieve that.’

The Centre for Separated Families is the only family separation charity, currently, that works with both mothers and fathers affected by family separation regardless of parental status.

Karen concluded:

‘We believe that there should be an expectation that both parents should continue to provide both care and financial support for children wherever it is safe to do so. We’d like to see services that support the ongoing input of both parents after separation.’

Ends.

Notes to the editor:

‘Kids in the Middle’ is a campaign supported by Dad.info, Relate, Families Need Fathers, Fatherhood Institute and OPF|Gingerbread

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.

Karen Woodall is the co-author of Putting Children First: a handbook for separated parents, published by Piatkus.

Further information: Nick Woodall 07771 854 792