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Put children first in separation 'crossfire', say over 90% in new poll
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31/07/08 1 in 3 kids will experience parental separation, yet services don't tackle conflict and emotional support say charities - as national debate launches.
93% of the public think children should come first when parents separate, yet three quarters say services focus on custody, contact and child maintenance but don't address managing conflict and emotional damage, according to a new ICM poll released as a national debate begins on what separating families need.
With 1 in 3 children set to experience parental separation before the age of 16, the ICM poll of 1021 people, published as Kids in the Middle - The National Debate on Support for Separating Families begins, shows:- 76% say children are affected by parents arguing with each other
- 84% say more should be done to support children when their parents are going through a separation
- 93% want more opportunities for children's voices to be heard during separations
- 75% say services tend to focus on practical issues such as housing, child maintenance, contact and custody but don't address emotional support for children
- 93% say children should be a priority when parents are managing a separation
The national debate, Kids in the Middle, backed by Relate, Families Need Fathers, One Parent Families|Gingerbread, and the Fatherhood Institute will take testimonies and evidence from parents, young people from separated families, professionals and politicians before reporting their findings and recommendations to government in the autumn.
Claire Tyler, Chief Executive of Relate, said:
"Up to 200,000 couples separate each year. Some parents manage separation reasonably amicably. But we know that if this does not happen, children in the middle of tension and disputes between separating parents can suffer a range of health, social and educational problems.
"But we have a system that seems to be in denial. Services deal with the practical issues such as money, but there is little or no support for children and families to manage the fall out from conflict. This must change.
"That's why we're launching a national debate and reporting to government how families can be better supported through separation to provide benefits which will be felt by children today and the families they raise in the future."
The Kids in the Middle national on-line survey and debate begins today and is seeking responses and views from anyone who has experience of separating families. It can be accessed through the following websites; www.dad.info www.relate.org.uk www.fnf.org.uk www.oneparentfamilies.org.uk www.fatherhoodinstitute.org.uk
Deidre Sanders, ‘Dear Deidre' of The Sun newspaper, and the nation's most famous agony aunts and uncles are also joining together to lead the debate in the media and seek their readers' views on supporting families through separation.
Ends
For more information, interviews with spokespeople from the charities or case studies and a copy of the research summary and polling summary on separated families, please contact Melissa Milner: Melissa@dhacommunications.co.uk or Daniel Harris, Daniel@dhacommunications.co.uk.
ICM interviewed a random sample of 1021 adults aged 18+ by telephone between 4th - 6th July 2008. Surveys were conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at www.icmresearch.co.uk
The charities involved in the alliance are: Relate, One Parent Families|Gingerbread, Families Need Fathers and the Fatherhood Institute
The Fatherhood research project was funded under the Big Lottery Fund's Research Programme.
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