press archive
The Centre for Separated Families
PRESS RELEASE
15.10.2008 – For immediate release
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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
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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
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‘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
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