Useful Links

Moneymadeclear

Divorce, separation or civil partnership dissolution is a tough time for anyone, and often the emotional aspect of the situation can be overwhelming. Understandably, under these circumstances the financial effects of breaking up are often overlooked. But if you have reached the point where you are ready to look at your finances there is now a new Moneymadeclear™ Divorce and Separation website from the Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) which users of Families Need Fathers may find useful.

The website has clear and accessible information to help support people who want some clarity when it comes to their finances during a difficult time of change. It covers everything from the general things to think about and the steps involved to child maintenance, living arrangements, splitting what you have and managing your money.

For children and young people (informative for practitioners too)

Relate offer a confidential counseling service for children and young people
aged 10-25 affected by parental conflict or separation. Sessions may be available in schools, youth clubs and various venues and are usually free. Contact Relate direct for details of what is available in your area (0300 100 1234, www.relate.org.uk).

ChildLine is there 24/7 for you to talk over any worry (0800 1111 or www.ChildLine.org.uk).

Get Connected help under-25s with a wide range of issues and can put you in touch
with the right sort of help near you no matter what your worry (0808 808 4994,
www.getconnected.org.uk).

A webite on separation for young people, parents and practitioners by Young Voice
http://www.whenparentspart.org.uk/

A website for children, young people and parents on separation by Action for Children
http://www.itsnotyourfault.org/

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For practitioners about working with children on separation

“Separation and Divorce - Helping parents to help children” By Christina McGhee, for Resolution, covers a range of topics about the separation process and information about how children are affected and can be helped, with very useful ideas by age. Free download:
http://www.resolution.org.uk/editorial.asp?page_id=112#anchor122

The Children's Legal Centre is an independent national charity concerned with law and policy affecting children and young people. It provides advice on education law, child law and family law. It provides representation for low income families and also runs an education legal advocacy unit for South East England which provides advice and representation for children and/or parents involved in education disputes with a school or LEA.
http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/

On contact centres (see FAQ page)
http://www.naccc.org.uk/cms2/index.php

Resources for parents (usually also informative for practitioners)

Step parenting
http://www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/family_matters/step_index.shtml

Children’s Centres
Support, information, respite and parent and child play sessions suitable for contact (including distance contact as parents can access any centre, not just in their home town). Usually for 0-5’s but some out of hours and weekend sessions will be for older children. Find a Childrens Centre anywhere in the UK here:
http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/

Organising and communicating for separated families
An American site that provides a software-based approach to organising separated parenting. There is an annual charge, so it is only suitable for parents with a disposable income
http://www.ourfamilywizard.com/index.cfm

Asian Family Counselling
AFCS works with individuals, couples and families, providing a safe environment where problems can be discussed and options explored. All services are provided in Gujurati, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and English. Phone counselling is available. Office: 020 8571 3933 or 020 8813 9714
http://www.asianfamilycounselling.org.uk

For parents with specific problems or complex issues

Family Rights Group
We are the charity in England and Wales that advises parents and other family members whose children are involved with or require social care services. We run a confidential telephone Advice line is open Monday to Friday 10am-3:30pm. Freephone 0808 801 0366. Or y email at advice@frg.org.uk or by letter (The Print House, 18 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL). If you email or write to us, please send us your postal address.
We welcome calls from textphone users via Typetalk. If you have difficulty speaking English, we can access interpreters in 150 languages through Language Line.

Adult survivors of child abuse
NAPAC is the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. We are a registered charity, based in the UK, providing support and information for people abused in childhood. Helpline: 0800 085 3330
http://www.napac.org.uk/

For perpetrators of domestic violence (male or female of any sexual orientation):
The Respect Phoneline 0845 122 8609 is a helpline offering information and advice to people who are abusive towards their partners and want help to stop
http://www.respectphoneline.org.uk/phoneline.php

Female and child victims of domestic abuse
Women's Aid is the key national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children. We support a network of over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the UK. Free 24 hr National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247
http://www.womensaid.org.uk/

For male victims of domestic violence.
The Men's Advice Line is a confidential helpline for all men experiencing domestic violence by a current or ex-partner 0808 801 0327 - free from landlines and most mobile phones. Monday - Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm
http://www.mensadviceline.org.uk/mens_advice.php

This site also contains list of useful links:
http://www.hiddenhurt.co.uk/Victim/forMen.htm

Several UK research papers that are highly relevant to practitioners and research projects that require participants:

1. Fathers of children with a learning disability (Foundation for People with Learning Difficulties)
In 2006, the Recognising Fathers project published its first report – Recognising Fathers: understanding the issues faced by fathers of children with a learning difficulty. That ground-breaking document, based on in-depth interviews with 20 fathers, is now followed by Recognising Fathers: a national survey of fathers who have children with learning difficulties (2009), written by Christine Towers, with 250 fathers surveyed.
This new report covers fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives, the impact on their relationships with families and friends, how support services interact with them, their need for employment support and the impact on their own health. Towers finds that while, in comparison with research from previous decades, some services are developing more opportunities for fathers to attend and participate in meetings, policies and practices in health and social care, as well as in employment, do not always acknowledge their ers’ caring responsibilities. The findings have implications for education, health and social care practitioners and policy makers for children with disabilities, as well as for employers and health workers, such as GPs, who have a role to play in supporting fathers as carers.

To download the report and access other information about fathers click here or contact Christine Towers.

2. Young fathers (University of Sussex, with Hove YMCA)
Starting from the position that young dads are not a ‘problem’ but are experts in their own experience, the Talking Dads project explored the views of a diverse group of nine young dads (25 yrs and under) in Brighton and Hove. Three of the young fathers helped decide the questions to be asked, and were trained to do the research interviews. Key findings from this very rich report include the diversity of the young dads’ experiences, the challenges they face (e.g. lack of resources, relationship pressures) and (as has been found in other studies) their powerful emotional responses to becoming fathers even at a very young age – and their commitment to fatherhood. The young men wanted more support from services, although many reported positive interactions with individual practitioners.
The project was funded by the Brighton and Sussex Community Knowledge Exchange, and the report should be of great interest to young fathers themselves, and to practitioners and policy makers.

To download the report click here.