Both Parents Matter

08/10/2026

🏃‍♂️ Going the extra mile for Both Parents Matter! ❤️

A shout out to our fantastic fundraiser Adam Smithson, who is putting in the miles to raise awareness and funds for Both Parents Matter. He's even set up his own website - 'Miles for Missing Moments' to chart his progress here:
https://www.milesformissingmoments.co.uk/

If you’d like to support Adam, visit his JustGiving page:
💙 https://www.justgiving.com/page/miles-for-missing-moments

A huge thank you to Adam for putting in the miles and helping make a difference! 🙌

A personal fitness challenge raising awareness of family separation and funds for established support organisations.

04/10/2026

💙 Grandparents matter too.

This Grandparents’ Day, we’re celebrating the special role grandparents play in children’s lives — providing love, stability, family history and a sense of belonging.

For some grandparents, though, this day can be a painful reminder of grandchildren they’re no longer able to see.

At Both Parents Matter, we believe children benefit from maintaining meaningful relationships with their wider family wherever it is safe and possible.

Our Grandparents Support Group offers a safe space to talk, share experiences and connect with others who understand.

📞 Our helpline is also here for grandparents: 0300 0300 363

🖥️ Our Grandparents Support Group meets virtually on the second Thursday of every month, 7:30–9:30pm.
https://bothparentsmatter.org.uk/grand-parents/

Read more about our work supporting Grandparents here::
https://bothparentsmatter.org.uk/because-grandparents-matter-too/

Both Parents Matter is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents and their wider family after separation.

02/10/2026

💙 This is why we do what we do.

Feedback like this means so much to us. It reminds us that behind every conversation, every piece of support and every person we help, there is a family whose lives can be changed for the better.

It’s also a reminder that we’re stronger together. When parents, families and communities work together, positive change is possible.

💙 Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you to everyone who supports Both Parents Matter, shares our message, reaches out for help, or simply believes that children benefit when parents can work together.

30/09/2026

💙 Want to support Both Parents Matter? Here’s an easy way to help!

🎉 Set up your own Facebook fundraiser!

Whether it’s your birthday, a special occasion, a personal challenge — or you simply want to support a cause you believe in — you can raise money for **Both Parents Matter** and help us continue our work supporting children and families.

📣 It only takes a few minutes.
💙 Invite your friends.
🙌 Spread the word.
🌟 Help make a difference.

Every fundraiser, every share and every donation helps.

Set yours up today and get your friends behind Both Parents Matter!
(Just select 'create fundraiser' in your menu and pick us as your Non Profit/Charity)

27/09/2026

🇬🇧 Serving in the Armed Forces and facing family court or separation?

You don’t have to face it alone.

Military life brings unique pressures — deployments, postings, long hours and time away from home can make an already difficult family situation even harder.

Our Armed Forces Support Group is a confidential, understanding space for service personnel navigating family separation and the UK family court system.

💬 Talk to people who understand.
🤝 Share experiences and support.
🧭 Get guidance and feel less alone.

📅 Last Thursday of every month
⏰ 7:30–9:30pm
💻 Online via Microsoft Teams:
https://bothparentsmatter.org.uk/online-armedforces/

Your role in your family matters. Your relationship with your children matters. And support is available. 💙

24/09/2026

The latest Family Court Statistics, released today, covering April to June 2026, show an 11% increase in private law cases coming before the family courts compared to the same quarter last year. However, the average time that private law cases was disposed of was down 3 weeks to 33 weeks.

At Both Parents Matter, whilst we welcome the improvements in time taken to conclude cases, possibly due to the ongoing rollout of Child Focused Courts, we are concerned by this continued increase in demand. More cases entering an already pressured family court system, risk adding more delay pressure; a welcome desire for speedier outcomes to ease that pressure must not though be at the expense of the best welfare outcomes for the child, invariably being able to maintain and build a loving relationship with both parents through proper parenting time.

While the increasing use of AI and online tools may be making it easier for some people to navigate court forms and procedures, the underlying issue remains: court should be a last resort when parents cannot resolve arrangements for their children safely and constructively.

When cases do reach court, every additional case adds pressure to a system still facing significant delays.

For children and parents, those delays aren't simply numbers on a spreadsheet. They can mean months of uncertainty, and a child denied a relationship with a parent, while decisions about their lives and relationships remain unresolved.

At Both Parents Matter, our focus is always on the best interests of the child. Wherever it is safe and appropriate, children benefit from having meaningful relationships with both parents — and family disputes, whether in or preferably outside the family court system, should be resolved as quickly and constructively as possible, without children being caught up in unnecessary or ongoing litigation.

Children don't get their childhood back. Often they don’t get their relationship with a parent back. Every unnecessary delay matters.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-court-statistics-quarterly

A collection giving Accredited official statistics on activity in the family courts of England and Wales.

23/09/2026

You may have seen the recent piece from Sky News - 'How family courts are failing domestic abuse survivors': https://news.sky.com/video/inside-the-secret-custody-courts-13590513

We agree with the central message of this Sky News investigation: the Family Court needs reform.

There is too much delay. Too little transparency. Too much inconsistency. And far too many families left feeling that the system is impossible to understand, navigate or challenge.

But there is a glaring omission.

Where are the stories of the fathers? We were disappointed that the programme did not also cover the trauma and barriers that dads face going through the family court and the abuse which they so often also suffer.

Fathers can be victims of domestic abuse too. They can experience coercive control, intimidation, harassment and abuse that continues through prolonged family court proceedings.

And where allegations are made, they must be taken seriously — but they must also be properly investigated and tested against the evidence. An allegation is not a finding of fact.

The consequences of getting that distinction wrong can be enormous: a parent can lose meaningful contact with their children, face years of litigation and financial pressure, and endure profound emotional trauma while waiting for decisions that may take months or years.

This isn't about men versus women. It isn't about taking sides. It is about justice.

A properly functioning family justice system must be able to do two things at the same time:
➡️ Protect children and genuine victims of domestic abuse.
➡️ Protect parents from unfairness, unfounded allegations and procedural injustice.

Those principles are not incompatible.

In fact, you cannot have a fair family justice system without both.

The Family Court is already moving towards greater transparency, with new arrangements allowing accredited journalists and legal bloggers to report on proceedings. But transparency must mean more than allowing the public to see occasional cases. We need meaningful scrutiny, consistency, accountability and confidence that the same standards are being applied across the system.

Children deserve better. Mothers deserve better. Fathers deserve better.

And families deserve a Family Court system that is fair, transparent, evidence-based and genuinely focused on the welfare of children.

The conversation cannot only include one side.

It has to include everyone who is affected by the system.

Our investigation comes as the new president of the family courts told Sky News a change in "culture" was needed in the system.

18/09/2026

🩵 Today, we mark Youth Mental Health Day.

Family separation can be difficult for children and young people. Changes to family life, loss of routine and worries about relationships with parents can leave some children struggling with their emotions.

If you’re worried about a child or young person in your life, youth mental health charity YoungMinds has information and support for parents and carers:

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline/

You can call their Parents Helpline for free on 0808 802 5544

And remember, you can always talk to Both Parents Matter on our helpline about anything that’s worrying you. Whether you’re struggling with family separation, worried about your child, or simply don’t know what to do next, we’re here to listen.

0300 0300 363

16/09/2026

Last week’s Westminster Hall debate on Fathers and Positive Male Role Models highlighted the vital role fathers can play in children’s lives. It was significant that the debate went beyond simply talking about “positive male role models” and more specifically to the importance of fathers.

Both Parents Matter especially welcomes this contribution from Rebecca Smith MP, and the recognition of the importance of meaningful father involvement post-separation.

But recognition must lead to action.

Family policy must recognise fathers as equally valuable parents, not an afterthought. It’s time for policymakers to put children’s relationships with both parents at the heart of family policy.

Fathers matter. Children matter. Both parents matter.

📖 A transcription of the Fathers and Positive Male Role Models debate is available here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2026-09-10/debates/67F44F83-F028-4FC8-B72F-6449EE07E298/FathersAndPositiveMaleRoleModels -content

📺️ The televised debate here (from 3pm): https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/7b525156-38dd-4b85-bd7e-58503e363d0e

10/09/2026

💙 Together, we are stronger.

Today, on World Su***de Prevention Day, we’re sharing the words of some of the fathers who have found support, understanding and hope through Both Parents Matter.

Their experiences remind us that no one should have to face difficult times alone. Sometimes, being listened to, understood and supported can make all the difference.

At Both Parents Matter, 62% of the fathers we surveyed reported experiencing suicidal thoughts at least once before contacting us. More than a quarter said these thoughts occurred often or very often.

Behind every statistic is a person — and behind every person, there is a story.

If you’re struggling, we’re here to help:

👉 0300 0300 363

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