Local MP Uses Ministerial Role To Launch New Reducing Parental Conflict Challenge Fund

North Swindon MP and Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, Justin Tomlinson has announced a £2.7 million fund to increase support for disadvantaged families at risk of parental conflict.

Children who are exposed to parental conflict for a significant length of time can find their own emotional and social development affected – which can lead to issues at school and impact on their future career chances.

The Reducing Parental Conflict Challenge Fund, which is part of the Government’s work to tackle parental conflict, will be delivered in two strands: funding for projects to support families at a greater risk of parental conflict and funding for digital support to help parents find help online.

Parental conflict can be made worse by a number of situations, such as debt trouble, divorce and mental health issues. From the investment, £1.1 million will be used to fund projects investigating solutions to address parental conflict as part of these wider family challenges.

The other £1.6 million will be used to find pioneering approaches to improve access to digital support for families at risk of parental conflict.

Grant participants will be asked to develop creative solutions which target digital help at parents with low digital skills and who live in low income and workless households.

Justin Tomlinson, said: “Conflict between parents can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on children, and it’s often caused by external stresses. We want families experiencing problems to have easier access to help. This innovative fund will develop solutions for parents to repair their relationships, resolve any conflict and provide a safer environment for their children to grow up.”