Government welcomes new ideas for supporting separated families
Additional funding available for projects to help separated parents and their children.
Delegates from more than 60 family charities and organisations are to convene in London today as the government opens a second round of bidding for new funding to help separated families work together for the sake of their children.
An additional £3.4m is now available for innovative projects as part of £20m worth of investment to support parents to collaborate to give their children the best start in life.
Over a quarter of a million separated parents in Britain are already set to benefit from £6.5m of pioneering support as 7 organisations were chosen to launch projects across the country, as part of the first round of funding announced in April.
The successful schemes included a national ‘virtual’ internet-based mediation service hosted by Relate, more localised face-to-face mediation, parenting classes for the hardest-to-reach teenage mums and dads, counselling and therapy projects, and specialist support to help those who fear their ex-partners.
Speaking ahead of the event at London’s Oval Cricket Ground, Work and Pensions Minister Steve Webb said:
This represents a substantial increase in funding for out-of-court support for separated parents and is the biggest push to help fathers and mothers to collaborate to support their children – both financially and otherwise – that this country has ever seen.
This is a chance for experts in the field to put forward innovative and effective ways of helping parents. We want to hear from as many organisations with as interesting ideas as we can.
The news comes as the government continues the biggest transformation of the child maintenance system in Britain in a generation – moving from an adversarial system to a collaborative one.
Thousands have already visited the new government-funded web app ‘Sorting out Separation’, which is the first ever one-stop shop for separated families. Helping with all the issues thrown up by a break up, it aims to help separating parents to minimise the impact of their break up on their children.
More information
Bidding for second round of the Innovation Fund opened on 24 May and closes at 10am on 17 June 2013.
Applications for the funding can be made online at www.dwp.bravosolution.co.uk.
‘Sorting out Separation’ is a web app which includes helpful videos and information on a host of issues affecting men and women going through separation. It offers help on everything from emotional, financial, housing and legal to parenting matters. There is an interactive diagnostic tool, which provides bespoke help and support.
It’s hosted by the likes of:
- Money Saving expert
- Relate
- National Family Mediation
- 4 Children
- Mumsnet
- Dad.info
- Gransnet
- Wikivorce
- Child Maintenance Options
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