A campaign, backed by a wide range of charities, is asking parents to sign a pledge during the good times, which will promise that should it all fall apart they will not do harm to their children.

The aim of the campaign is deliberately not targeting family court, asking society to start the conversation. More than 100,000 marriages or relationships of parents breakdown in the UK on average every year. More than a quarter of a million children every year in the UK are affected by their parents separating, and one in three couples will end up in the family court system, with the children caught in the middle of bitter disputes.

Even the Family Court Division have recognised the need for reform. The "What about me?" report published by Family Solutions Group last November states that: "children are at risk of harm when parents separate. Family breakdown is a time of great vulnerability and research has consistently shown that unresolved parental conflict is harmful to children"

Parental separation is often charged with deep emotions and feelings of anger and hurt. We support the aims of the Parents Promise in seeking to protect children from the trauma caused when those feelings boil over. Damaged children grow up to be damaged adults. Education and information on separation can help parents stay out of court and avoid further escalation. Early intervention and support are also needed to ensure a focus on wellbeing of children.