Page 17 - link magazine

NEWS &VIEWS 17
Putting children at the centre stage of divorce

In the middle of West Swindon an children. Child protection proce-
organisation tries to get parents dures are also strengthened and the
across Wiltshire who are going legal process, where it happens, is
through a divorce to consider the speeded up.
needs of their children. "It's very difficult to say how the
Tucked away in a suite of offices, new law will work out," says Alan.
almost underneath the Link Centre "All legislation takes time to estab-
is the Wiltshire Divorce Court Wel- lish itself, but the basic philosophy
fare Service. Few people know it's is good. It gives children powers to
there, but through its doors go some express theirown views and wishes,
of the unhappiest people around. either through other adults work-
Heading up the service is Alan ing with them, or being able to voice
Sealey who explained that last year their own opinions to the court, if
there were 2,700 divorce petitions to they are of sufficient maturity."
theCountyCourtinWiltshire,(1,112 Marriage breakdown and divorce
from Swindon alone), excluding all appears to be an increasing feature
those who go through the Magis- of modem society and sadly chil-
trates Court in separation proceed- dren will continue to be the inno-
ings. Where the magistrates or judge Court Welfare officer Alan Sealey outside the offices at the Link Centre cent victims of dispute and strife in
is concerned for the care of any chil- physical or sexual abuse of children may only be permitted to make con- relationships. On the bottom line
dren involved, or there is a dispute by the other parent, the officer has to tact by letter or the telephone, and the Court Welfare Service tries to
over custody or access, the court investigate the allegations very the legislation gives the court the get parents to consider what is right
welfare service is called upon to pre- closely in co-operation with other ability to appoint people other than for the children, rather than who is
pare reports involving both parents professionals and be very sure that parents to take responsibility for the right in the argument.
on making the best arrangements the risk of such abuse if proven is
for them. unlikely to happen again when mak-
"At first our ing his recom-
aim is to meet the mendations to MRT SECRETARIAL
parents to see if the court. If nec-
agreement can be The figures don't reveal essary, legal WORD PROCESSING
reached for the the pain experienced safeguards will Letters, CV's, Mailshots, Manuscripts and Reports
care of the chil- by so many be recom- All work produced on a Hewlett Packard Laser Printer
dren," said Alan. Nationally 370 % of all marriages mended. For a fast professional secretarial service,
"If the parents end in divorce and 50% of The Children phone Maureen on 881733 (West Swindon).
agree on the best second marriages break-down. Act came into
future for the chil- These figures don't count force last Octo-
dren, we report to couples who live together who ber and affects FIXED PRICE ACCOUNTANCY
the courtand if the breakup. Its estimated that by the care of chil-
judge is satisfied, the year 2000, 3.7 million dren in many FOR THE SELF EMPLOYED & SMALLER BUSINESS
then the divorce children will be living in step- fields - from the
families - 25% of all children.
can proceed." With these stark national registration of
"However, in averages, it is no consolation playgroups by + EASY TO USE ACCOUNTS PACKAGES
many cases the that the nature of Thames- socialservicesto WITH VIDEO AND GUIDE
parents are at war down's young, mobile and how courts deal
with each other aspiring population means that with arrange- + KEEPS BOOK-KEEPING TO A MINIMUM AND LEIS
and we cannot the figures locally are ments for chil-
reach agreement. significantly higher. In a recent dren on their US GIVE A FIXED PRICE ACCOUNTS/TAX/AUDIT
This means that study of 234 marriages before parents' divorce SERVICE
the court asks us the divorce court in Wiltshire, or separation.
to prepare a full 70% had not survived ten Abouttwenty + HOT LINE SUPPORT - REGULAR HELP MEETINGS
report on the case years. Some degree of five different
and in addition to physical violence (mainly men laws have been RING NOW FOR FREE NO OBLIGATION DISCUSSION
seeing the parents on women) is involved in 40% abolished or MILL HILL ASSOCIATES • TEL: (0793) 874260
we may visit the of the cases referred to the amended and
children in the Court Welfare Service. brought under
home, speak to one piece of leg-
grandparents, islation, intro-
doctors, social workers and others ducing new ideas in child care and a NATIONAL VACUUM CLEANER SERVICES
involved. Often the most difficult lot of new terminology. Alan says
part of our job is to break through that underpinning the Act is the idea
the personal animosity that parents that parental 'rights' are replaced by YOUR LOCAL, FRIENDLY SPECIALIST for service repair
have towards each other, to get them parental 'responsibilities.' It means
to see things in terms of what's best also that there should be no state to most makes of VACUUM CLEANERS AND POLISHERS
forthechild. Unfortunately thechil- intervention in child custody or ac- Sales of machines, dustbags, belts, etc.
dren are sometimes used as tools in cess matters unless parents cannot
a battle between adults, which agree, and it is better for the chil- Direct Phone to Workshop
doesn't do anybody any good." dren. 9am - 5pm weekdays 0285 - 712991
The whole process can be long, The changes introduced include
involved and relies, in addition to the possibility that children can live rii: ESTIMATES
the research of the case, a great deal with either parent for agreed peri- U ItL4L COLLECTION & DELIVERY

on the professional judgement and ods of time and that access to chil- - For a Fully Guaranteed, Expert TJ4
sometimes even a gut feeling of the dren is replaced by contact arrange- and Speedy Repair Service
Welfare Officer said Alan. In par- ments. In this a parent may (or may Evenings: Swindon 881007
ticular where a parent is accused of not) be allowed to meet children, or