Blog
Hearing from children when their parents separate or divorce
Should we be listening to children and young people directly, or hearing their views via their parents? This is a question that exercises the minds of those who work in the family law field and is receiving heightened attention from policy makers in Scotland at the moment. Does it put pressure on children and young…
Read MoreInternational perspectives on post-separation parenting
Children do better when they can have a positive relationship with both their parents, whether they live together or apart. This was the clear message from both speakers at our International Perspectives on Post Separation Parenting Event in Edinburgh on 30th November. The challenging question for all of us at the event who work in…
Read MoreFamily Dispute Resolution Pilot
Relationships Scotland have been working with our lawyer mediator colleagues from CALM Scotland to put together a proposal to encourage families with disputes over contact arrangements to look in to their options for resolving their differences, prior to going to court. It is widely accepted that if parents can find a way to move forward…
Read MoreThe Four Cs – Advice from Ten Years of Family Mediation
Rosanne Cubitt, our Head of Professional Practice (Mediation) reflects on over a decade of experience as a family mediator. She’s worked with parents across Scotland dealing with the process of separation and divorce. I often say to parents that there are better and worse ways of splitting up – my job is to help them find…
Read MoreQ&A with experienced Family Mediator and Child Contact Centre Manager Pauline Nimmo.
1.Why did you decide to pursue a career in child contact centres and family mediation? While doing the Diploma in counselling I found Relationships Scotland – Family Mediation South Lanarkshire while looking for a placement. Although not relevant to my training I spoke to the manager who explained the CCC and I was immediately interested…
Read MoreNew Report from JRF highlights Key Role of Family Relationships
A major new report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has highlighted the importance of family relationships and their impact on poverty across the UK. ‘UK Poverty, Causes, Costs and Solutions’, published by JRF on 6th September, outlines what it means to live in poverty and offers realistic suggestions for actions that would make a…
Read MoreHaveYourSay – SCCR National Survey 2016
Diane Marr, Network Development Manager, SCCR Every year in Scotland, the life chances of almost 4,500 young people are left hanging in the balance as they become homeless due to family relationships breaking down[1]. That’s the equivalent of nearly five high schools worth of pupils! But they are just the tip of the iceberg; we…
Read MoreWrong Heads In Wrong Beds
One of our counsellors Di Farmer has currently submitted her dissertation as part of a MA (hons) Sociology Degree at Glasgow University. The title is “Wrong Heads In Wrong Beds” – explaining Relationship Counsellors views of Infidelity. It seeks to address a gap in sociological research, in a subject which is more widely recognised psychologically. The main …
Read MoreMediation or Litigation? A Brief Overview of the Benefits of Mediation
Mediation is not being utilised to its fullest potential in Scotland at present. With the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee recommending a “wholesale review” of Scots family law this year, I would suggest that this opportunity is used to encourage a greater use of mediation and to raise awareness of the benefits of choosing to settle…
Read MoreParenting Apart Project – Year 1 Summary
Parenting Apart information sessions have been offered across Scotland, from 11 Member Services, since funding was awarded by the Scottish Government in April 2015. In that time over 300 parents have participated in group or individual sessions and found out how to make splitting up less stressful for children. The feedback from parents has been…
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