Help for families hit by separation

OLDHAM will receive a share of £4.75 million to help separated parents and lessen the impact on children.

The money will be used to improve the co-ordination of counselling, mediation and legal support for families caught up in divorce in 10 pilot areas

A survey by the Kids in the Middle Campaign found that more than 90 per cent of parents thought more should be done to support families during separation.

Practical and emotional issues they have to deal with include child maintenance, residence and contact as well as benefits, tax credits, legal matters, housing and work.

Manchester, Salford and Oldham will form one of the pilot areas and Schools Minister Vernon Coaker said: “We know the devastating impact that divorce and separation can have on families and in particular on the wellbeing of children who can often get caught in the middle of family breakdowns.

“We are committed to doing more to support parents and children experiencing family breakdown and to provide preventative support to help families maintain strong, stable relationships.

“These pilots will look at how services can be better tailored to the needs of families during very difficult times.

“As well as improving life chances for children, these pilots aim to improve the health and economic wellbeing of families during relationship breakdowns.

“They are another vital step in our commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020.”