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KENT SOLICITORS GIVE LOCAL CHILDREN'S CENTRES A SEASONAL BOOST | 30 December 2010

A group of family lawyers in Kent have kicked off the season of goodwill with a festive £500 donation to help local children affected by family breakdown.

The local group of the family lawyers’ association Resolution has donated the funds to the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) to help develop supported and supervised contact services in Kent for children whose parents have separated.

“Christmas is traditionally seen as a time for families,” said Dawn Harrison, Chair of the Kent branch of Resolution, which represents almost 200 lawyers across the region. “But as many separated parents and their children know only too well, managing Christmas across two households can be extremely challenging.

“While many families can come to their own arrangements about contact with their children at this time, some families need a little extra help. That’s why NACCC’s support to its member centres in Chatham, Ramsgate, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and St Augustine’s in Folkestone is so important. They provide a safe, friendly and neutral place where children of separated families can spend time with one or both parents.

“The Kent Resolution group wanted to show our appreciation for the vital service that these centres provide to the local community and are delighted to make this donation today”.

Ann-Marie Stubbs, NACCC’s Regional Support Manager for Greater London and the South East said: “This donation could not have come at a better time for our member services in Kent and I’d like to thank Kent Resolution for their kind donation.

“Since May 2010 NACCC has been developing in Kent and we have seen applications for new, accredited, supervised child contact services grow in number across Canterbury, Sittingbourne, Faversham and Dartford. This vital work can only continue with ongoing support, which is why this donation has been so significant”.

To help separated parents manage the challenges of child contact at Christmas, Resolution and the NACCC have the following top tips:

1. Put your children’s needs and feelings first. Discuss arrangements with the other parent and try to share both the pleasure and the responsibilities.
2. Let the children know that even though things will be different, Christmas can still be special. Work together with your children to create new Christmas traditions in each home.
3. Think long-term and stay flexible. You may want to be with the kids on Christmas Day but there will be other Christmases. It may be fairest to agree to alternate which household the children are at from one year to the next.
4. Don’t compete with your ex over presents for the children. Instead, discuss what presents to buy so that you don’t duplicate. Consider whether it would be helpful to continue the tradition of a joint present from both of you. And allow your children to decide where they will keep their gifts.
5. Ask for help if you need it and make sure to use the wealth of resources designed to help separated parents manage. Resolution’s Parenting after Parting advice pages at www.resolution.org.uk/parentingafterparting are full of useful tips and advice and also contain information on specialist workshops for parents going through divorce.