Government Bodies and Separation Organisations

A separated parent who experiences conflict in trying to see their children is likely to come into contact with the following agencies and charities:

Cafcass:

From www.cafcass.gov.uk

We work within the strategic objectives agreed by our sponsor department (the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF)) and contribute to wider government objectives relating to children.

Cafcass stands for Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service.

Cafcass is independent of the courts, social services, education and health authorities and all similar agencies.

The remit

We operate within the law set by Parliament and under the rules and directions of the family courts. Our role is to:

  • Safeguard and promote the welfare of children 
  • Give advice to the family courts 
  • Make provision for children to be represented
  • Provide information, advice and support to children and their families.

The work 

The main types of cases in which the courts ask Cafcass to help are when:

  • Parents or carers are separating or divorcing and have not reached agreement about arrangements for their children
  • Social services have become involved and children may be removed from their parents’ care for their safety
  • Children could be adopted.

National Family Mediation:

From www.nfm.org.uk

NFM is a network of local not-for-profit Family Mediation Services in England and Wales which offers help to couples, married or unmarried, who are in the process of separation and divorce. We are committed to providing high quality mediation to everyone who needs it in all communities.

NFM mediators help clients to reach joint decisions about the issues associated with their separation - children, finance and property. Several NFM services also provide specialist services for children.

Mediation is a confidential, voluntary, "without prejudice" process in which a neutral third party, the mediator helps you to discuss and negotiate all issues surrounding your divorce or separation. Research shows that mediation improves communication and helps to build for the future in new circumstances. In particular it can help children maintain their family relationships.

What can be mediated?

  • Contact arrangements
  • Residence of children
  • Parenting
  • Communication
  • Maintenance
  • Child support
  • Finance
  • Holiday arrangements
  • Property
  • Sharing possessions
  • Pensions / Endowments
  • Settling of debts
  • Wills and probate
  • Re-establishing contact
  • Care of older relatives
  • Education.

Families Need Fathers

From www.fnf.org.uk

Families Need Fathers is a registered UK charity which provides information and support to parents, including unmarried parents, of either sex. FNF is chiefly concerned with the problems of maintaining a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

The annual subscription costs less than a few minutes of a solicitor's time, and gives access to a wide range of information and support that is beyond the scope of some lawyers. We have a rapidly growing number of grandparents and women members.

What we believe

  • Children have a right to a continuing loving relationship with both parents
  • Children need to be protected from the harm of losing contact with one parent
  • Both parents should be treated equally and shared parenting should be encouraged
  • Each parent has a unique contribution to make to their children's development
  • The Family Courts should be backed by a nationally funded mediation service
  • Litigation is not the prefered route for resolving post separation childrens matters.

What we do

  • We operate a national helpline as a member of the Telephone Helplines Association
  • We work to increase awareness of the problems of family breakdown
  • We produce booklets, leaflets, a website and a regular newsletter
  • We hold local self-help branch meetings throughout the UK
  • We provide support to members through our internet forums  
  • We have a network of volunteer telephone contacts
  • We run Parent Support workshops
  • We provide speakers and case studies for the press and media
  • We participate in family policy forums and seminars
  • We respond to government consultations
  • We lobby Parliament and the legal profession
  • We collate and promote relevant research information.

The Centre for Separated Families

From www.separatedfamilies.org.uk

The Centre for Separated Families is the national charity that works with everyone affected by family separation in order to bring about better outcomes for children.

Traditionally, support after family separation has been centred on only one parent; often referred to as a ‘lone parent’ or ‘single parent’.

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.

Our work is based, not supporting either parent, but, on helping both parents to identify their children’s needs and then helping them to work out how best each can contribute to providing for them.

The absence of conflict and financial security are key to children’s wellbeing. By supporting both parents to continue to provide a positive input into their children’s lives, we believe it is possible to help children to adjust to life after separation and reach their full potential.

The Centre for Separated Families is the lead handoff organisation for the Child Maintenance Comission's Options service, details of which are listed in the Client Signposting List.

Gingerbread

From www.gingerbread.org.uk

Gingerbread is the leading national charity working to help the UK’s 1.9 million lone parents and their children. We believe in a fairer society for all families, in which people bringing up children on their own are recognised for their positive contributions and where they and their families can thrive and enjoy equal opportunities financially and socially. Gingerbread has headquarters in London and a network of regional offices in Wales, Manchester, the North West and the South East.

Services provided:

  • The Lone Parent Helpline - The Lone Parent Helpline is a freephone confidential service for lone parents, with trained staff offering help and advice on the many issues arising from relationship breakdown and coping financially with raising children on their own, including benefits and tax credits, housing, maintenance, moving into work or education. The telephone service is backed up by a wide range of publications providing more detailed information on a similarly wide range of subjects, which are sent free of charge to lone parents.
  • Membership - Gingerbread offers, amongst other options, Lone Parent Family Membership, for lone parents who want to access the many benefits this brings. This includes regular information about discounts on services, goods and events; an exclusive members’ magazine and monthly e-newsletters.
  • The Lone Parent Helpdesk - Our web-based information bank, which enables lone parents to search all our factsheets, booklets and topical news-sheets online.
  • Gingerbread Groups - Our network of self-help groups offers you a place to go with your children to meet other lone parent families.
  • Learning and training for lone parents - We offer a variety of learning and training opportunities for lone parents and their families.These range from employability training,community and family learning programmes and family events, and are run in a number of locations across England and Wales.
  • Resources for professionals - Gingerbread has been delivering training and consultancy to public, private and voluntary-sector organisations for many years. We offer training courses across a broad range of subject areas, including tax-credits, financial literacy, teenage pregnancy and health, and lone parents’ benefits and rights. These courses are available as both standard and bespoke training programmes. We also publish several printed products for advisers and professionals, including the Pregnant Teenagers and Young Parents Resource Pack, the Young Mum’s Guide, factsheets and booklets,and several policy publications.
  • Campaigning and Policy Change.

Resolution

Although Resolution has a reliable database of non-conflict solicitors, local legal support can also be found using the Family Law Registry.

From www.resolution.org.uk

Resolution, which was formerly known as the Solicitors Family Law Association (SFLA), is an organisation of 5000 lawyers who believe in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters. Resolution also campaigns for improvements to the family justice system.

Resolution supports the development of family lawyers through its national and regional training programmes, through publications and good practice guides and through its accreditation scheme. Resolution also trains and accredits mediators and is the only body providing training and support for collaborative lawyers in England and Wales.

Encouraging good practice

The cornerstone of membership of Resolution is adherence to the Code of Practice, which sets out the principles of a non-confrontational approach to family law matters. The principles of the code are widely recognised and have been adopted by the Law Society as recommended good practice for all family lawyers. The code requires lawyers to deal with each other in a civilised way and to encourage their clients to put their differences aside and reach fair agreements.

National Association of Child Contact Centres

From www.naccc.org.uk

The National Association of Child Contact Centres is a national charity that supports around 350 Child Contact Centres throughout the British Isles (with an additional 35 supported by the Scottish Association).

Mission Statement

To promote safe child contact within a national framework of Child Contact Centres

Values:

  • Ensuring safety
  • Child centred within the family
  • Promoting equality, celebrating diversity
  • Independent and impartial
  • Respecting individuals, preserving confidentiality
  • Valuing and supporting voluntary service
  • Sharing skills and expertise to achieve better outcomes for children and their families