Call our National Helpline on 0300 0300 363
Check availability times

The UK's leading Shared Parenting charity

Press Releases

'One million children growing up without a father' - comment from Families Need Fathers

CENTRE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORT FINDS ONE MILLION CHILDREN ARE GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER, AND THIS FIGURE IS GROWING AT A RATE OF 20,000 A YEAR

 

In response to today’s research from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) which has found that around 1 million children in the UK are growing up without a father, Jerry Karlin, Chair of Families Need Fathers, commented:

 

“These figures are a sobering reminder of how much more work needs to be done to ensure that children in separating families are able to maintain a meaningful relationship with both parents following family breakdown.

 

The important thing is ensuring that children are able to maintain and develop a strong relationship with both parents and their wider family that enables them to flourish, whether they live in the same household or not. Sadly, the family justice system all too often fails to support parents in achieving this, particularly when handling acrimonious separations.

 

The issue is not whether two-parent households are better than single-parent households; it is whether parents are able to rise above their own differences and focus on the best interests of their children, and this is what the Government, and we as a society, should consider a priority when it comes to family life.”

 

ENDS 

 

For comment, case studies or information please contact:

 

Ross Jones, Policy & Communications Manager 0300 0300 110

 

 

Note for editors:

 

CSJ press release:  http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/UserStorage/pdf/Press%20releases%202013/CSJ-Press-Release-Lone-Parents.pdf

 

Families Need Fathers (FNF) is a registered 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.  

 

 

Our primary concern is the maintenance of the child’s relationship with both parents. 

 

Founded in 1974, FNF helps thousands of parents every year.

What do you think?

Send us feedback!

Captcha
        Forgot Login?  

  Join us now...
Consider a small donation...

If you are using Amazon for purchases, please use their "Smile" programme and select us as the charity they will donate to.

 

FNF HSSF Kite Mark

Families Need Fathers has been awarded the Help and Support for Separated Families Kite Mark which is a new UK government accreditation scheme for organisations offering help to separated families.

Families Need Fathers work with a range of family law professionals, including Family Law Panel.

FNF are pleased to announce a partnership with MyDaddy who have built this excellent app for the significant proportion of fathers who are now newly sharing parenting after separation.

Upcoming Events

28/01/2026 Wed: London East (Tower Hamlets)
28/01/2026 Wed: Cambridge Meeting
29/01/2026 Thu: Exeter Meeting
31/01/2026 Sat: Harrow Branch Meetings
2/02/2026 Mon: Nottingham Meeting
2/02/2026 Mon: Reading Meeting
2/02/2026 Mon: London Central Meeting
4/02/2026 Wed: London West Meeting
7/02/2026 Sat: Harrow Branch Meetings
9/02/2026 Mon: Swindon Meeting
9/02/2026 Mon: London Central Meeting
10/02/2026 Tue: Crawley & Brighton Meeting
11/02/2026 Wed: London East (Tower Hamlets)
11/02/2026 Wed: Cambridge Online Meeting
14/02/2026 Sat: Harrow Branch Meetings
16/02/2026 Mon: Nottingham Online Meeting
16/02/2026 Mon: Reading Meeting