Families Need Fathers is soon to celebrate its 35th anniversary. With the rise in divorces since the 1970s children have had to cope with the painful feelings that follow from this. Sometimes living arrangements and access are sorted out and a working compromise is reached.  In other cases this does not happen and the impact can be devastating. 

Anne Burge is organising an inaugural meeting for an FNF support group in Rugby on Wednesday 17th June, 7.00pm at The Friends Meeting House, 28 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PN.  For further details e-mail burge.anne@yahoo.co.uk

If a partner in a relationship doesn’t come up to the expectations of the other, this does not mean they can’t be a good mother or father to their children. Unscrupulous or narcissistic spouses surround their children with emotional flack and, just as in schools or wider society, a bullying gang is formed. Yet here it is within the family and the children’s own mother or father is the demonised victim. Contact is denied and the judiciary, with their limited resources, have been going along with it.

In its severest form this is called Parental Alienation Syndrome and is a form of brainwashing. Families Need Fathers have been lobbying Parliament to take the situation seriously.  Because they have developed a nationwide network of support groups and an evening help-line, they have been given a government grant to continue out reach and lobbying work.

As lawyers fees are beyond the finances of most people, an important part of this work is to inform alienated parents on being a Litigant in Person (LIP). LIPs are  supported by a ‘McKenzie Friend’ in Court. The support groups are important for people going through this process. The FNF magazine for members is called appropriately ‘The McKenzie’.

FNF also works closely with other organisations such as MATCH (Mothers Apart from their Children) JUMP (Jews United for Multiple Parenting) and the Grandparents’ Association.