One of the many issues which arise during the Covid-19 “lockdown” is that of parents living apart, and the movement of children between two different domiciles where such arrangements were in place prior to the lockdown. Ditto, where contact arrangements with the non-resident parent were less than shared care.
The Government has issued guidance on this matter, and the President of the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, has reiterated the main point, which is this,
“Where parents do not live in the same household, children under 18 can be moved between their parents’ homes. This establishes an exception to the mandatory ‘stay at home’ requirement; it does not, however, mean that children must be moved between homes.” (emphasis as in the original).
However, a very obvious question is what will actually happen in practice. Moreover, the effect of the lockdown may change as time wears on. To capture data on the actual effects, the charity FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru has created an online survey “Survey of separated parents’ shared care of children during Covid 19 pandemic“. If you are a separated parent with shared care or contact arrangements, please complete the survey via that link. Also, please pass the link on to anyone else for whom it may be relevant. UK residents only, please.
If you have problems with that link you can also complete the survey on the charity’s web site (it’s the first thing you see).
Many thanks.
Unfortunately unable to finish the survey, because section 4 presumes that one has a singular arrangement with all of their children under 18. I would like to tick two of the multiple choice answers, but the survey is apparently not sophisticated enough. The fact that my circumstance exists and isn’t unique is obviously itself relevant data. Would someone please inform FNF Cymru that their survey is a tad square and has clearly omitted at least one group? I’m a complicated man and all that that implies in terms of this survey. Over the years I could in fact have at one stage, or other, ticked every box in question 4 except ‘controlled through child services’ and in various different combinations including a period where I would have been required to tick 3 of the 6 multiple choice options… It is what it is.
Evviva, to our good health fellow egalitarians.
There is an article in the Guardian on this subject. Oddly, it does not take an anti-male line.
I thought I was looking at the wrong newspaper.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/07/lawyers-inundated-by-divorced-parents-arguing-over-lockdown-custody
Indeed, most surprising
I think as a matter of strategy one should, not first, but second, seek a contact via Skype, Whats Ap etc. If and as and when this is permitted then the next step would be to seek to have individual contact with each child on the basis that each child is different and has different needs which is the principle to which courts SS and Cafcass are supposed to work to – however, they usually lump the children together and this would be a good way of pointing out the individuality and differing needs of each (and every!) child. After all chuikldren of differnt ages would be in different classes in school and even twins might be separated into different classes to allow each to progress independently from their sibling!
(Comment on behalf of Tony): It’s always hard to see contact denial in a positive way but for the minority who are experiencing the exploitation of the CV-19 pandemic by a former partner to obstruct contact you should document everything and keep it for the next opportunity to demonstrate their implacable hostility and the harm caused…see 55 harms, Dr Farrell, Dr Gray “Boy Crisis”.
“Truth is the daughter of time, not authority” – Francis Bacon