Press Release - 14^th June 2019

A third of domestic abuse is towards men. The Joint Committee's report states that men, boys and others must not be excluded, however, instead of seeking resources and support for all, it continues to support a gendered strategy of ending ‘violence against women and girls'.

Report published on the very same day as new advertising rules ban the use of harmful gender stereotypes.

Whilst the report rightly identifies minority groups that may be marginalised in current proposals,

it fails to identify men/fathers which are the biggest group marginalised in the Bill by far.

The Joint Committee’s report fails to address a growing problem of false allegations, particularly in the context of family separation.

Safeguards are needed to protect the welfare of children where the system is abused.

Criminal sanctions should only be imposed if guilt is established in a criminal court.

Submit Your Response Now!

Deadline is 26th August 2019

If you have not completed your submission to the Government are conducting a Review of how family courts protect litigants in family courts, then this is the last chance to do so. The call for 'evidence' will inevitably produce one-sided and anecdotal stories that will not be informed by tested facts to determine false allegations, relevance or the sometimes complex abusive dynamics of specific relationships. The submissions will also be reviewed by a highly quetionable panel of 'experts' that includes representatives of women's right organisatons, but not a single organisation representing men or fahters. However, if the MoJ are to rely on "trial by outcry", it is important that as many views are received as possible. It needs to include stories from good dads whose children have been denied contact, whose children have been abused by alienation or who have not reported abuse for fear of loss of access to their children. So if you have not made your submission yet - ACT NOW and HAVE YOUR SAY!.

If you have not read it already, more details on this issue can be found in our previous Newsletter of 9th August 2019.

Please feel free to copy us on your sumbissions at admin@fnf.org.uk - we will not pubish details that might identify you without your permission.

Alison is an Independent Social Worker Consultant and Expert Witness. Alison undertook a masters course in social work and has been a social worker for nearly 30 years. She has qualifications in counselling and therapy as well as being a qualified paralegal. Alison has also been a Children’s Guardian. Through her business Child and Family Solutions she specialises in high conflict/Parental Alienation cases. Evidence-based assessments for the Court where alienation appears to be affecting healthy family attachments post separation and therapeutic assistance on the reunification of children with their alienated parents, led to several successfully reunited families.

Welcome to the Newquay Branch page!

We are an affiliate branch of the UK's leading shared parenting charity, Families Need Fathers.

We provide help, advice and support for those that are dealing with children's matters before, during and after relationship breakdown. All are welcome - be they mothers, fathers or grandparents.

There is no cost for attending our meetings, but if you find the help and advice useful we appreciate a small donation to FNF. We also request visitors to consider becoming members of FNF to help our organisation to keep going in especially difficult times for all.

Upcoming Meetings & Events

We meet online at 8pm on the last Thursday of every month.

Meeting Location

Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, this branch’s meeting has moved online and joined with Exeter. Please contact Exeter Branch for details on how to join

We meet at Store House, Seymour Avenue, Newquay TR7 1BL. Please come through the fire doors there will be a poster on the door for signposting.

Contact

If you have any queries, please contact Maureen: 07929 247 407. Alternatively, email Newquay.Meetings@fnf.org.uk. Please do not contact the venue as they will not be able to help you.

Policy 

All matters are discussed in complete confidence under the Chatham House Rule.

We divide the time betweent the number of attendees on a first come, first serve basis. Attendees are not obliged to discuss their own situation, but everyone can listen to the stories and give advice if they have relevant experience.

We provide a relaxed, pressure free forum for discussion.

Families Need Fathers - because both parents matter

Operations and Marketing Officer
£24,000 to £28,000 depending on skills and experience

Closing date 18th August 2019

There is an enormous amount of work for us to do and we are delighted that we are in a position to recruit a full-time Operations and Marketing Officer, based at our national office in Bethnal Green. The role will be offered on a 12 month contract basis with the potential to renew and extend depending on funding and performance.

We have decided to look both internally and externally to fill this role. You can send your CV and covering letter to explain how you meet the person specification for the role to admin@fnf.org.uk with FNFOMO2019 in the subject heading. 

Please read full details of this role online.

Spotlight on Child Protection in Family Courts - Submit Your Response by 26th August 2019

Since our Newsletters on this subject of 31st May and 3rd July 2019, we informed you of the Government's announcement to have a review of how children and parents are protected in family courts. The call for evidence has been announced and, for all the flaws in the way that this review has been structured, it is important that they hear the many voices of good mums and dads who will be affected by conclusions of this report. So please respond to this review on the basis of your experience:

Advance Notice of Families Need Fathers Annual General Meeting and Conference - Saturday 14th September 2019 

Trustees hereby notify members of the date for an Annual General Meeting in London’s Euston on Saturday 14^th September 2019. Details of the venue will be confirmed separately with the formal announcement and agenda for the AGM.

The vital administrative business of the charity benefits us by ensuring that we have Trustees who are able to support the development of our work. We cordially invite as many members as possible to attend. The AGM itself is expected (to be confirmed) to take place at 3:30pm.

Seminars and Discussions

There will be an opportunity to discuss the future direction of FNF at this conference as well as practical guidance on family justice. We will provide further details of registration and event speakers separately.

Please reserve the day in your diaries.

Government to Consult on Extending Paternity Leave

FNF lobbying is making a difference. Could properly funded Paternity Leave become a reality?

Yesterday the Government announced their intention to consult on extending paternity leave. It would be difficult to over-state the importance of this initiative. When other countries introduced policies that properly support paternity leave, this was the single biggest factor that began the process of shared parenting after family separation. We will keep you informed of details of this consultation as they become available.

Child Maintenance Debate in Parliament 23rd July 2019
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED!

Deadline is Monday 22nd July at midday

There’s going to be a debate on the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) on Tuesday next week, 23rd July 2019 at 2:30pm, in Westminster Hall at the House of Commons. The debate will be led by Martyn Day, the Member of Parliament for Linlithgow and East Falkirk.

He wants to hear about your experiences of Child Maintenance on the House of Commons Facebook page or through a short private survey.

Sorry for the short notice. We did not have much ourselves - the survey need only take a minute or three.

In the News and in Parliament

FNF Contribute to Article Growing Scientific Evidence for a Presumption of Shared Parenting in Law

Families Need Fathers get a mention by the journalist writing in support of a rebuttable presumption of shared parenting in The Times of Malta, having disussed with him our experience, and shared some of our research sources. In this wide-ranging and interesting article, he explores the substantial and growing scientific basis for the benefits of shared parenting and how current policies cause unnecessary harm to children's and public health. Plus several other articles.