Press Releases

Media Release – for immediate release 21st July 2020

FNF welcomes the Government’s publication today of their acceptance of the need for a coherent strategy for separated parents and their commitment to reviewing the formula for child maintenance

As over 3 million people sign-up to Universal Credit since March the Government must act urgently to make sure work always pays

The Government have lacked an appetite to deal with these thorny issues - in the words of Mark Twain “if you have to swallow a frog, don't stare at it too long”

The Government have today published their response to the recommendations of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) on Child Maintenance. The SSAC, a statutory government agency, made specific recommendations. The Government response confirms it will follow-up on the key recommendation to address the lack of a ‘clear strategy for separated parents’. It’s encouraging that their response recognises the need to work across departments to develop coherent approach to reducing family conflict after separation and their commitment to discussing this further with stakeholders. Key amongst the specific issues the Government have committed to addressing is the need to ‘examine ways of improving the child maintenance formula and its links with earnings thresholds’.

Two authoritative reports by the Centre for Social Justice2, the brains behind Universal Credit (UC) and then the SSAC have pointed to the same conclusion – that there is a serious problem with the child maintenance formula. They each say that often child maintenance assessments are unaffordable to low-income parents, particularly under Universal Credit (UC). Both reports highlight that the current formula means that paying parents are often worse-off working than not – going against the whole principle of Universal Credit.

Over 3 million new applications have been made for Universal Credit since the coronavirus lockdown in March 2020, a number that seems set to rise far higher over the coming months. Already arrears of child maintenance are going up and the prospect of recovery of this amongst the poor seems low – whilst the prospect of this adding to family conflict, which is always bad for children, is high.

A spokesperson for Families Need Fathers says, “As the Covid-19 crisis unfolds, tens of thousands of parents are falling behind with their child maintenance payments, not because they won’t pay, but because they can’t.

The ongoing financial (and other) discrimination against so-called “non-resident” parents remains a scandal affecting family rights and in practice amounts to unlawful gender discrimination against fathers - and fosters dissension, making responsible shared parenting a financial impossibility.

Historically high rates of arrears are set to mushroom out of control. The lack of joined-up-thinking in the Government must be rectified and urgently so. The problem of unaffordable assessments and destructive interaction with Universal Credit has been known about for years. As millions of people lose their jobs and sign-up to Universal Credit, the need to address the problem has become ever more urgent. The Government have lacked an appetite to deal with these thorny issues – they should take heed of the words of Mark Twain ‘if you have to swallow a frog, don't stare at it too long."

Notes for editors:

Families Need Fathers - because both parents matter FNF is a registered UK charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. FNF is NOT a fathers' rights group - we support the best interests of children - namely mature and collaborative parenting by both parents - an objective which is inadequately promoted in the family court system and associated services.

FNF receive approximately 30,000 calls a year to our Helpline and thousands more rely on our local branch network and online support.
Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s meaningful relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.
Further information please contact us by email at media@fnf.org.uk or leave a message on 0300 0300 110.

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Press Release – for immediate release 20^th April 2020

FNF have just published guidance on shared parenting and separately, on child maintenance under the Covid-19 lockdown.

The pandemic requires separated parents to co-operate as never before.

Parents need respite when looking after children 24/7.

Children, often already cut-off completely from grandparents need to know that both their parents are there for them whenever possible.

Daily we continue to hear of family conflict - parents must avoid the temptation to settle old scores and feelings of hurt. They must actively promote and not undermine child-parent/grandparent relationships.

Meanwhile as over 1.2 million people sign-up to Universal Credit – the Government must urgently act on the recommendations of its own investigative body and ensure that under Universal Credit neither parent is pushed below the poverty line. Government must ensure that UC assessments take into account statutory Child Maintenance Payments.

Families Need Fathers are delighted to make available guidance for child-focused shared parenting after separation under the coronavirus lockdown as well as on dealing with Child Maintenance difficulties.

It is always better to separate amicably or at least to make child arrangements for shared parenting that serve the best interests of the children. Daily we continue to be told of parents who are finding that their ex is exploiting the situation. In one case a dad was told that his daughter could not go to his house because she was being held in self-isolation, only for him to find out that she was still attending school.

Approximately 1,000 parents a week, who fail to agree arrangements for themselves, seek the support of Family Court in England and Wales. During the Covid-19 lockdown courts are only able to offer a limited service with remote hearings. The strain is telling. The more difficult cases are being shelved. Last week parents waited all day for a hearing that was cancelled without even a telephone call to inform parties. A judgement and orders from an earlier date were then only sent by email to one parent. The distress caused is unacceptable.

Our guidance promotes collaboration and gives guidance on what to do if that fails to result in progress. The risk to the parent who denies child-parent time without adequate justification is made clear in the guidance from The President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane.

Sir Andrew’s guidance states: “If, after the event, the actions of a parent acting on their own in this way are questioned by the other parent in the Family Court, the court is likely to look to see whether each parent acted reasonably and sensibly in the light of the official advice and the Stay at Home Rules in place at that time, together with any specific evidence relating to the child or family” Government also states: “Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents' homes.”

Jerry Karlin, Managing Trustee of Families Need Fathers says “We are pleased to be able to offer up-to-date guidance at this difficult time. Family separation is stressful for children at the best of times. Covid-19 has inflicted new challenges and pressures on them, their parents, grandparents and wider families. Everyone must pull together in the interests of the children. Family Courts, even under strain, must be robust to prevent the gaming of the system. Court cases prior to Covid-19 on average 28 weeks to complete. By being more robust at an early stage, it would be more likely that many could be closed earlier. Delays are never in the interests of children. The Judiciary and Ministry of Justice must see to it that resources are put in place so decisions and support are offered in child-appropriate timeframes. Meanwhile FNF guidance is available to anyone who is unsure of what to do and our Helpline (0300 0300 363) and volunteers continue to provide support remotely.”

Support is also needed in relation to resolving conflict over Child Maintenance as hundreds of thousands of parents lose jobs and income. The initial response by the Department of Work and Pensions is welcome, but does not go anywhere near far enough. As over 1.2 million new applications are processed for Universal Credit, the Government must urgently take heed of the recommendations3 last year of their own statutory advisory body, the Social Security Advisory Council (SSAC), and ensure that it takes into account Child Maintenance payments.

Jerry Karlin continues, “As well as taking urgent actions recommended by SSAC, the Government must tackle the hostile environment that CMS projects. The 20% surcharges on parents on benefits who struggle to pay their assessed child maintenance must stop immediately. So must the aggressive pursuit of parents on low incomes and state benefits for historic and unaffordable CM arrears. The refusal to review CM assessments for those whose incomes don’t drop by 25% must end. Finally, parents who do not comply with Family Court orders must stop being rewarded with extra maintenance for denying parenting time of their children by expartners. Meanwhile we hope parents find our guidance on Child Maintenance helpful.”

Notes for editors:

Families Need Fathers - because both parents matter

FNF is a registered UK charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. FNF is NOT a fathers' rights group - we support the best interests of children - namely mature and collaborative parenting by both parents - an objective which is inadequately promoted in the family court system and associated services.

FNF receive approximately 30,000 calls a year to our Helpline and thousands more rely on our local branch network and online support.

Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s meaningful relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

Further information please contact us by email at media@fnf.org.uk or leave a message on 0300 0300 110.

What do you think?

Send us feedback!

Media Release – for immediate release 27^th June 2020

Biggest Ever UK Parental Alienation Study Published 
The damage caused to children by poor or selfish parenting when they separate has reached epidemic proportions 
Tens of thousands of children suffer the needless loss of a parent in their lives through abusive denigration of good parents 
Family courts are not fit for purpose - other forms of support are all but non-existent 
Covid-19 is making matters worse 

While the Domestic Abuse Bill is being scrutinised by Parliament a powerful new report highlights the desperate need to address a system of family justice and support that are not working properly.

The UK Parental Alienation Study 2020 has just been published. It was conducted by Good Egg Safety CIC, a  leading campaigner on child safety who has worked on a wide range of social justice and community safety programmes.
The study is based on over 1,500 responses from separated parents, the biggest such study ever conducted in the UK. The results mirror the experience of parents who are FNF members and service users:

• Almost half report not seeing their children for over six months, in many cases not for years.
• 58% experienced breaches of court orders. 
• 80% experiencing adverse health impact.

This broader study shows that the issue is reported heavily by mums as well as dads and has adverse wellbeing effects on children regardless of which parent is behaving abusively. 

The report identifies the kinds of abusive behaviours following family separation that wreak untold damage on tens of thousands of children every year. Behaviours such as isolating children from their fathers, mothers, grandparents and wider family, denigrating and devaluing of victim mothers and fathers and making false allegations against parents (often in front of the children). 

A spokesperson for FNF says “With almost half of parents separating before their children leave school, it would not be an over-statement to say that the situation has become a child wellbeing issue of epidemic proportions. 

The adversarial family justice system has shown itself to be unfit-for-purpose. It takes well over half a year to conclude family proceedings - on average, and often the child is no longer able to see one of their parents! Many children's arrangements take a year or even several years.

Frequently the court fails to provide early-intervention when needed and only takes enforcement action in relation to breaches of court orders far too late and in fewer than 1% of cases.  

FNF support Philip Davies MP’s amendments to the Domestic Abuse Bill that seek to ensure that children are protected from all forms of abuse.”

LINK TO SURVEY STUDY: https://www.canva.com/design/DAEAF75oOd0/view
 
Notes for editors: 
Families Need Fathers - because both parents matter

FNF is a registered UK charity providing information and support on shared parenting issues arising from family breakdown, and support to divorced and separated parents, irrespective of gender or marital status. FNF is NOT a fathers' rights group - we support the best interests of children - namely mature and collaborative parenting by both parents - an objective which is inadequately promoted in the family court system and associated services. 
FNF receive approximately 30,000 calls a year to our Helpline and thousands more rely on our local branch network and online support.
Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s meaningful relationship with both parents. Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.
Further information please contact us by email at media@fnf.org.uk or leave a message on 0300 0300 110

What do you think?

Send us feedback!

Press Release 5^th February 2020 

Finland's government plans to give new fathers as much paid leave as mothers 

Finland is investing in children and families - the UK is lagging far behind

UK's children are needlessly being deprived of the full benefits of both parents

Paternity leave must be funded on a 'use-it or lose-it basis'

 Current parental leave policies do not reflect the diversity of modern family life

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