Deirdre Sanders, the country’s most famous Agony Aunt gave the annual Relate lecture today when she reflected on her thirty years of work and her perspectives on British families from answering over six million readers’ letters during this time.  She meets Minister for Families, Tim Lawson next week and asked to identify the one thing in which she thinks Government should be investing, she said her greatest concern was about the process that couples go through when splitting up.  Speaking specifically she referred to the parenting information programmes – saying that they were a good idea and that they worked. 

In 2010, Family Law In Partnership started to provide a parenting after parting programme developed by family lawyers group Resolution under the guidance of American pioneer, Christina McGhee.

“We aim in 4 hours over 2 evenings to help parents grasp the essentials that will enable them to see their children through this transition in a good way,” said Ruth Smallacombe, a trained counsellor and mediator and one of the deliverers of the sessions.  “We aim to provide a relaxed environment for parents to come together and build understanding and skills.  Our experience has been that will lead directly to their managing better the other aspects of separation including the resolution of the finances and the divorce and by focusing on the children, so often these issues can be addressed more constructively and at lower cost.”

Information about the workshops can be accessed by following the links at www.resolution.org.uk/parentingafterparting

Christina McGhee’s guide for parents “Parenting Apart” is published by Vermillion at £12.99