Family Justice Councils Initiative

 

The National Family Justice Council is a non-departmental public body fully funded by the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It was established in 2004 to facilitate the delivery of better and quicker outcomes for families and children who use the family justice system.

Family Courts were invited to set up Local Family Justice Councils in 2006 to mirror this in 49 Court areas throughout England and Wales, its members representing professionals, academics, and a range of users of the system. The aims of these bodies are:

  •  to promote more effective interdisciplinary working by the different professionals involved in the family justice system
  •  through discussion and co-ordination between all agencies best practice can be identified and communicated throughout the family justice system
  • to consult with Government Departments on current policy and priorities, and submit proposals for new practice where appropriate to improve the workings of the family justice system.

The situation changes all the time but at time of writing FNF representatives are increasingly involved in a number of Councils across the country, whether at the consultation stage, participating in training events, forming sub committees, or as full members (see below for FNF status at different LFJC’s). We are the only voluntary organization to have suggested this so far, although the aim is that the initiative is picked up by others like ourselves, as we believe it will be an important and helpful factor in communicating and facilitating the principles for which we fight; that children are best served by being brought up by both of their parents.

 

 Family Justice News                            Family Justice Policy & Research

 

What we advocate:

  • A presumption of Shared Parenting.
  • That the term Contact is replaced by Parenting Time
  • The universal use and financing of Parenting Plans and Mediation services
  • An open court system to further public confidence
  • An open debate regarding accusations of Parental Alienation and Domestic Violence
  • Adoption of best practice throughout the courts to reduce time delays
  • And, although beyond the remit of the FJCs, a common strategy for arranging parenting time and financial provision in order to give meaning to both

For this initiative to be a success we need experienced, suitable and available FNF members to come forward to act as attendees at Local Family Justice Council Meetings or as members of local sub groups. Members must be able to have the time to contribute, and have no personal issues outstanding in their court areas.

The list of LFJCs below shows our current status. Where * appears we are involved and active with the LFJC. (Local activity to get an invitation is welcome).

Please click on the location names to see the status of our involvement on that particular Council, and any related documents.

 

National FJC activity

 

Avon, Somerset, & Gloucestershire

 

Blackburn and Lancaster

 

Bournemouth*

 

Brighton

 

Cambridge and Peterborough*

 

Chelmsford

 

Chester and Warrington

 

Coventry

 

Cumbria*

 

Derby*

 

Durham

 

Guildford (Surrey)*

 

Humber

 

Ipswich*

 

Leeds

 

Leicester*

 

Lincoln

 

Liverpool*

 

London*

 

Luton

 

Manchester

 

Medway and Canterbury*

 

Newcastle

 

Northampton*

 

Norwich*

 

Nottingham*

 

North Wales

 

Plymouth, Exeter, Truro*

 

Portsmouth*

 

Sheffield

 

South East Wales (Cardiff, Swansea , Pontypridd, Newport)*

 

Stoke on Trent*

 

Sunderland

 

Thames Valley*

 

Teesside

 

Watford*

 

Telford and Worcester (West Mercia)

 

West Midlands

 

York (& North Yorkshire)*

 

 

Within the governance of FNF, the project is initiated by Trustee Charles Kenyon and facilitated on a day to day basis by Policy and Information Officer Becky Sibert. The drivers, however, are the hard working local representatives from Branch and Group and this decentralisation is the basis of our success.

Details of the dates and locations of the meetings will be posted on this site, as well as the names and contact details of the relevant legal bodies involved in each area, although all correspondence and enquiry should go through Becky Sibert, Policy and Information Officer, at the FNF Head Office: becky.sibert@fnf.org.uk.

A Private Law Programme and other relevant papers from each local county court, if available, will also be found on this website, giving information on how each court will deal with a case, as well as other useful links.

It is through proactively engaging with the legal system that we can bring about necessary change.

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