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WE CANNOT SIMPLY SPEAK ABOUT ‘PROBLEM’ FAMILIES; GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TAKE A CLEAR LEAD IN DEMONSTRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF BOTH PARENTS IN A CHILD’S LIFE

The civil disturbances seen across Britain last week were undoubtedly the result not of a single issue, but numerous interlinked social and economic causes which have developed over both the short and long term. The Prime Minister has identified the declining influence of the role of the family and parenting as one of these factors. Families Need Fathers agrees that more needs to be done to enable children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents following family breakdown, but that this will require significant work on behalf of the Government to ensure that words are translated into action.

Ken Sanderson, CEO of Families Need Fathers, commented, “No one would want to oversimplify the causes of the recent disturbances which have devastated families and communities across the country. It is widely accepted though that families and parenting play a critical role in ensuring children are brought up with a strong ethic of social responsibility and a desire to improve the lives of those around them. Research strongly indicates that children have better emotional, educational and social outcomes over the course of their lives if they are able to enjoy the full involvement of both parents, regardless of whether they are still together or not.

The issue here is not as simple as ‘problem’ families, and parents not taking responsibility for their children. Good parenting is not a product of income, and though a small minority of parents may shirk their responsibilities, the great majority of parents desire to do their best for their children following family breakdown, regardless of other factors.

Mr Cameron correctly identified in his speech that people react to signals given by the Government and public bodies. For too long though, the signals given to families has downplayed the importance of children maintaining a meaningful relationship with both parents following divorce and separation. Whether it is the lack of action taken against parents who break contact orders or the struggles faced by some separated parents to even obtain their children’s school reports, the overall impression given is that parents not living with their children are of secondary importance.  The Government needs to take a clear lead in family policy, and make it clear to public bodies, and indeed wider society, that both parents matter. It is a shame that it has taken the violence and destruction witnessed over the past week to bring about serious discussion on how we ensure that children enjoy the benefits of having both parents involved in their lives. I hope that Mr Cameron will follow through on his expressed desire to strengthen families and communities when the Family Justice Review presents their final recommendations in the autumn.”

ENDS 

For comment, case studies or information please contact:

Ross Jones, Acting Director of Policy and Research 020 7613 5060

Ken Sanderson, CEO 020 7613 5060

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ADDRESS INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS WHICH PREVENT THE INVOLVEMENT OF FATHERS BEFORE CASTIGATING ALL WHO ARE ‘ABSENT’

David Cameron’s comments in the Sunday Telegraph risk casting all separated fathers as irresponsible, when many wish to see their children but are prevented from doing so.

Families Need Fathers believes that David Cameron, though correctly identifying the importance of both parents in a child’s life, has given the false impression that separated fathers who do not have a relationship with their children choose willingly not to do so. Going by the experiences of the thousands of parents (and their wider families) that FNF supports each year, this is simply not the case for the majority of separated fathers.

Ken Sanderson, CEO of Families Need Fathers, said, “Mr. Cameron appears to have overlooked the complexity of separated families. Very few fathers choose deliberately to walk away from their children, and it is damaging in the extreme to suggest that this is the common experience. Rather than simply wringing his hands about the ‘bogeyman’ of the absent father, Mr. Cameron would be well advised to examine how his government can ensure that the importance of fatherhood is better reflected in law, rather than simply in rhetoric.”

Ken Sanderson continued, “Mr. Cameron gives the impression in his article that he does not believe the government can do anything to ensure that fathers are involved in children’s lives following separation. If he genuinely wishes for fathers to be more involved in children’s lives, he needs to ensure that the law reflects the importance and status of fathers in families. There is plenty that Mr. Cameron could do in this regard. This could include requiring both parents to sign their child’s birth certificate, or ensuring that local services such as schools and doctors treat both parents equally and provide them with the same information on their children, regardless of which parent lives with the child.

If Mr Cameron sincerely believes that both parents need to be involved in a child’s life, he will no doubt signify his support for the upcoming Private Member’s Bills being presented by Brian Binley MP and Charlie Elphicke MP. These bills aims to introduce a presumption of shared parenting in law for separating parents where there are no welfare concerns for the involved parties. Such a presumption would be the best way the government could both send out a message to all parents that they are equally responsible for their child’s wellbeing post-separation. More importantly, it would ensure that children are able to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents and their wider families throughout their lives, enjoying the social, psychological and emotional benefits that such relationships have repeatedly been demonstrated through academic research to provide.”

ENDS 

For comment, case studies or information please contact:

Ross Jones, Acting Director of Policy and Research 020 7613 5060

Ken Sanderson, CEO 020 7613 5060

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The July 2011 issue of McKenzie, the journal of Families Need Fathers, was published last week and includes the following exclusive stories:

•    Ken Clarke recognises difficulties in current legal aid proposals;
•    Cafcass is found guilty of maladministration and compelled to pay a father compensation;
•    Families Need Fathers’ telephone helpline logs a record number of calls.

Further details of these stories can be found below.

Ken Clarke recognises difficulties in current legal aid proposals

Attending a local FNF meeting in Nottingham, Secretary of State for Justice Ken Clarke addressed questions from attendees about legal aid in private family law. Mr Clarke recognised the problems caused by legal aid in private family law proceedings, in particular in prolonging proceedings where only one party is publicly funded.

Furthermore, Mr Clarke expressed concern at the potential effects of the exemption from the withdrawal of legal aid in private law cases where domestic abuse was alleged. In particular, Mr Clarke highlighted that an unintended consequence of the exemption could be to provide an incentive to falsely allege domestic abuse in order to secure legal aid.

Cafcass is found guilty of maladministration and compelled to pay a father compensation

The Parliamentary Ombudsman found Cafcass guilty of maladministration in failing to properly investigate the complaints of a Derbyshire man, John Johnstone. Cafcass were ordered to apologise, pay £250 compensation and reinvestigate the original issues. Mr Johnstone’s case was taken to the Ombudsman by his local MP Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire).

Families Need Fathers’ telephone helpline logs a record number of calls

The Families Need Fathers evening telephone helpline answered 4,125 calls in the year from June 2010 to May 2011. The May total was the highest ever, with 627 calls being logged.

Analysis of the call data suggests that breakdowns are typically occurring earlier in relationships, often after 2 or 3 years. The children involved are therefore typically much younger, sometimes only months or a year or two old.

FNF’s Helpline Co-ordinator, Anthony Esler, added, “Our figures also show that we are getting many more calls from Grandparents, second partners and even the resident parent. This is clearly due to the fact that we are becoming better known and more families are becoming aware that Families Need Fathers is the charity to turn to when a relationship breaks down.”

ENDS

For comment, case studies or information please contact:
Ross Jones, Acting Director of Policy and Research 020 7613 5060
For general enquiries about McKenzie please contact:
John Forsyth, Editor 07738 285 954

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