There are estimated to be over 100,000 children affected by divorce every year in the UK, and many feel that they don’t have a voice. A recent government report, ‘Voice of the Child’, found that while there has been an improvement in the provision of information and support services for people getting divorced, there has not been a similar level of investment for children and young person’s support services in relation to family breakdown.

To provide children caught up in divorce with much-needed support, a new initiative is being launched across the UK. The initiative, called the Kids in the Middle campaign, is being run by the UK charity Kids in the Middle along with family lawyers and mediators from all over the country. It aims to provide support, information and guidance to respond to children’s needs and concerns as their parents go through the divorce process.

Commenting on the campaign’s goal, the director of the Kids in the Middle Initiative Duncan Fisher said:

“Support for children and young people in separating families is persistently overlooked in favour of support for parents. The gap between the rhetoric about the importance of children and young people and the reality of their marginalisation is unacceptably wide and our charity has teamed up with a group of leading family lawyers and mediators to redress the balance.”

A brand new website, publicity drive and social media campaign

The Kids in the Middle campaign now has a new, expanded website, a one-stop-shop for children and young people whose parents are divorcing. The website offers advice, counselling and valuable resources children in need of support, as well as real-life stories from other young people who have had similar experiences. The website states that it is ‘a place for young people in separating families to hear from others who have been there’.

With funding from key sponsors including leading family law experts, the campaign is also beginning a large publicity drive. This includes a social media campaign, which will call on young people to share stories about their experiences, as well as offering advice to their peers. Online counselling will also be a key part of the initiative, delivered by counselling service Relate. The service’s CEO Ruth Sutherland told familylaw.co.uk:

“It is hugely important to recognise that separation is not just about adults - it affects the whole family, particularly children and young people. Ongoing conflict can have a profound impact on the youngest members of the family. Empowering children and young people to have their voice heard during family separation increases the chances of reaching and maintaining agreements around things like living arrangements and access.”

With experience of all kinds of divorce cases, the team at Tracey Miller Family Law understand the effect that separation can have on children. Get in touch for professional, friendly advice on issues involving divorce and children. .