York Separated Families

York’s children’s centres receive family separation training

The Centre for Separated Families has recently delivered training to a wide range of professionals working in and around each of York’s nine children’s centres.

The Department for Education funded course explores the impact of relationship distress and family separation on parents and children and offers strategies for supporting families through the transitions that separation brings.

It is part of a programme to train professionals in more than 700 children’s centres across the country, as well as to staff working in PVI nurseries.

New book for separating dads

Gary Bailey’s Divorce for Dads: making the right choices for your kids

In Divorce For Dads, ex Manchester United and England goalkeeper Gary Bailey combines forces with family separation expert Nick Woodall to provide a new guidebook aimed specifically at fathers experiencing divorce or family separation. Offering comprehensive advice in a simple and accessible format, this is a book that every divorced (or separating) dad should read.

The book examines the impact of family separation through tools such as the Change Curve. It looks at issues including dealing with anger, grief and loss and offers tips about the best ways to keep in good physical and emotional shape. It also explains how family separation impacts on children and how to spot and deal with their distress.

Finally, the book looks at the kind of future that you want to offer your kids with plenty of tools and techniques to help you to get it right. From making new parenting time arrangements and helping your kids to live in two homes to getting communications right and successful negotiations, Gary Bailey’s Divorce for Dads will help you make the right choices for your kids.

Amazon >>

£20 million to help separating families

An extra £20 million will be made available to support separated and separating families as part of the radical overhaul of the Child Maintenance system, Ministers announced today. [DWP]
>> read more

Separated parents happier with own child maintenance arrangements

Separated parents are happier with their own, family-based, child maintenance arrangements according to a major survey. New research shows separated parents who work out their own child maintenance arrangements are more satisfied with their set-up than those using the Child Support Agency. [Child Maintenance Commission]
>> read more

Story time for under-5s with Ladybird Live! 9th June 2011

Thursday 9 June, 10.30am

Ladybird Books and BBC Radio’s favourite performance poet Murray Lachlan Young host a hilarious storytelling extravaganza with Liza Tarbuck, Toyah Wilcox, Sally Phillips and Andy Day on screen.
With support from local bookseller Bubbles of Gillygate. Win a £70 Ladybird toy in Bubbles’ charity raffle.  Plus there will be a prize for the best ladybird costume!

More information and booking

Child maintenance reforms

The Government is currently consulting on proposed changes to the child maintenance system. The Green Paper, Strengthening families, promoting parental responsibility: the future of child maintenance, builds on changes that came about under the previous Government who introduced the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Act 2008.

At the heart of the proposed reforms is a belief that families, themselves, are best placed to determine what arrangements will work best in their circumstances and an intention to encourage the involvement of both parents in their children’s lives after divorce or separation. As well as promoting child-focussed, family based private agreements, the reforms would provide parents with an integrated model of relationship and family support services that would help them to deal with the practical and emotional issues that can get in the way of successful maintenance arrangements.

You can read the written evidence submitted to the Parliament by the Centre for Separated Families here

Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it!

MEND stands for Mind, Exercise, Nutrition…Do it! and is a course designed to help children between the ages of 7 and 13 who are over the healthy weight range for their age and height. It’s the largest national scheme for tackling childhood obesity, including sessions to get the whole family involved in helping children to change their eating and exercise habits whilst learning about nutrition.

The eighth and final course will be starting in York on the 5th May, organised by the City of York Council’s Sport and Active Leisure team. It will take place after school, twice a week for 10 weeks at Waterworld, Monks Cross. A limited number of places valued at up to £400 are available on the course completely free of charge thanks to MEND, Big Lottery and Children’s Trust Unit.

For more information, or to register for the Programme, call free phone 0800 230 0263 or visit www.mendprogramme.org. A parent or carer must accompany each child to the twice weekly sessions and places must be booked in advance.

Perfect for: parents worried about their children’s lifestyle and determined to make a difference

Micklegate Young People’s Directory

Download the latest Micklegate Young People’s Directory with loads of information on activities, advice and much, much more…

Download PDF here: Micklegate Young People’s directory

Two new free Family Learning courses with free childcare!

Family Learning & Skills for Life

DAD’S COOKERY!
No skills required!
A fun informal session
FREE COURSE FREE FOOD!
A FREE COURSE AT
BURNHOLME COMMUNITY COLLEGE
WEDNESDAY evenings
27th April – 25th May 2011
7.00-9.00 Pm
For more information or to enroll call or text:
Natalie Burnside
07785 546366

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Free course – Free Childcare

MAKE YOUR MONEY GO FURTHER!
(a money management course)
at
St Hilda’s Church Hall
Do you want to have better control over your money?
Look at ways to reduce your bills
Thursday Mornings
28th April to 21st July 2011
9.30-11.30 am
For more information or to enroll call or text:
Natalie Burnside
07785 546366