The Centre for Separated Families
PRESS RELEASE
03.09.2008 – For immediate release
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Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith to join Stephen Geraghty and Anthony Douglas at landmark conference
The Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP is the latest high profile speaker to be named by the Centre for Separated Families for its national conference in October.
Mr Duncan Smith will join Stephen Geraghty, Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, and Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive of Cafcass, as a keynote speaker at the
conference, entitled Best Practice in Support to Separated Families: Putting Children First.
The conference brings together leading policy makers and practitioners from across Government departments, academia and the third sector to share best practice and expertise.
Karen Woodall, Director of the Centre for Separated Families said:
‘We are absolutely delighted to have Mr Duncan Smith as one of our guest speakers. He is one of the most highly respected thinkers on family policy in this country and we can be sure that what he
has to say will really add to the debate.’
‘We know from our work with separated families that mothers, fathers and children urgently need support, both at the point of separation and far beyond. We also know that government is
working hard to understand and deliver what families really need.
‘The Conference is an opportunity for key policy makers and practitioners to come together to deepen that understanding and share best practice. Mr Duncan Smith’s contribution can only strengthen
that.’
The conference, which will be held at Dexter House in London on 16 October 2008, will have a number of places reserved for representatives from all sectors including parents and children
themselves.
Ms Woodall added:
‘This feels like a turning point in the way that we support separated families in the UK. Our aim is to show that supporting mothers and fathers, as well as grandparents and other relatives,
brings better outcomes for children.’
As well as the key speakers, the conference will be hosting a wide range of seminars where ideas and best practice will be shared. A panel debate and question time with leading policy
makers and practitioners will round off the day which will be recorded in sound and pictures to mark the importance of the event.
Ends.
Notes to the editor:
The Centre for Separated Families is a national charity working with and on behalf of families experiencing divorce and separation.
The Centre offers information, support and advice to mothers and fathers, whatever their parenting status, and has a range of innovative education programmes to support co-operative
parenting.
The Centre for Separated Families works with Government and other agencies to help deliver best practice in services delivered to separated families.
The Centre for Separated Families has worked closely with the Department for Work and Pensions on its new Child Maintenace Options service.
The Centre has a research programme and aims to inform and influence public policy through this and its direct work with families.