We are delighted to announce that The Parenting Apart Programme CIC has received funding from the Coronavirus Community Support Fund, distributed by The National Lottery Community Fund. This will help us to support parents who are going through conflict, divorce or separation. Thanks to the Government for making this possible.
The funding is available for 6 months for parents to attend the initial 4-week Parenting Apart Programme (Alternative Dispute Resolution), which can be offered as a choice alongside Mediation. It is crucial that families are able to access support in order to help and prioritise the emotional needs of their children when experiencing family breakdown today.
What is the Parenting Apart Programme?
The Parenting Apart Programme has been specifically designed to support parents to communicate and to prioritise the emotional wellbeing of their children. The programme is a structured 4-week programme which enables parents to explore their family challenges, initially individually, (1 session each), and subsequently jointly, (3 sessions), learning how to communicate as parents, to form a respectful parent working relationship, that results in a Parent Working Agreement which both parents agree to abide by. This can be filed alongside any Court order if relevant.
The Agreement details how the parents will work together to support the child’s wishes, emotional and physical wellbeing covering practical issues including transition of care, childcare arrangements, holidays, handovers, and schooling. This enables parents retain joint responsibility for decision making related to their children’s futures, as opposed to Court directed, third party decision making.
The initial 4-week programme can be accessed before, during and after Court proceedings. Parents who complete the programme can self-certify to Courts that they have completed alternative dispute mediation if required.
The sessions will be offered remotely via zoom (etc) and these will be 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Eligibility Criteria:
The Programme is eligible for those who are on low-income/Universal Credit, meet the Legal Aid threshold or Litigants in Person.
If you have a parent/family that you feel would benefit from this support, please ask them to contact us to secure their place.
Tel: 01562 700447
Email: [email protected]