Child Safety Week 2023 is an annual initiative – which took place from 5th to 11th June this year – and is a prime opportunity to discuss safeguarding children.
The main objective of Child Safety Week 2023 is to promote understanding and emphasise the significance of safeguarding children, as well as to inspire proactive measures in order to mitigate accidents and injuries. This event serves as an opportunity to educate parents, caregivers, educators, and communities about the potential hazards children may encounter, as well as the preventative steps that can be implemented to guarantee their welfare.
The welfare of children is of importance to family law practitioners as although they do not directly work with children, the work that they do has a direct impact on a child’s life. A family practitioner will assist individuals in all areas of family law which include Divorce and Separation, Child Custody and Access, Child Support and Maintenance, Domestic Violence and Protection Orders, Pre-nuptial and Post-nuptial Agreements and Cohabitation Agreements. All of the aforementioned may both directly and indirectly concern the children of the family.
Children of couples who divorce will be at the centre of the conflict and will likely face the biggest impact. Studies in the UK have uncovered that children of divorced parents may experience emotional and behavioural difficulties, such as increased anxiety, depression, and aggression. They may also have lower self-esteem and exhibit more challenging behaviours compared to children from parents who are not separated.
Aside from this, studies have even suggested that divorce can contribute to long-term psychological consequences for children. They may face an increased risk of developing mental health issues, including depression and substance abuse. The changes that divorce and separation bring about in a family will impact children as they will have adjust to such changes, such as new living arrangements and changes in relationships with both parents.
Children of divorcing parents will not only face psychological and behavioural implications, divorce also brings financial challenges. Such obstacles may not be immediately apparent to the divorcing couple. For instance, a change in the family’s financial resources may result in a decrease of funds available to one parent, and therefore a lower standard of living available to the child. This can be reflected in reduced access to educational opportunities, and limited access to extracurricular activities.
It’s important to note that not all children of divorced parents will experience these difficulties, and the impact can vary based on individual and family factors, such as the child’s age, temperament, support systems, and the level of conflict between parents. Additionally, various protective factors, such as positive parent-child relationships, social support, and effective co-parenting, can mitigate some of the negative effects of divorce on children.
We at Hubbard Pegman and Whitney are mindful of the welfare of children in the work that we do. Our family lawyers in West London ensure that they obtain training and educate themselves on safeguarding children and how their practice can affect children. With this in mind, we seek to assist individuals in their family matter in the least adversarial way possible.
If you are in need of a West London family lawyer, get in touch with us today. Currently, we are offering a free initial telephone consultation with our family team for new enquires. During this call we will tell you what we can do next to get started. Give our Hammersmith solicitors a call now for a friendly chat on 020 8735 9770 or email info@hpwsolicitors.co.uk
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