£ 11m plan to help children in homes where parents regularly argue

THE GOVERNMENT is giving an £ 11m boost to a programme helping children in hostile homes whose parents have regular arguments.

TheReducingParentalConflict programme helps parents tackle the root causes of their problems and improves children’s wellbeing, the Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP) said.

The extra funding will allow families to be supported during and beyond the current coronavirus lockdown.

The DWP said its research shows that intense, regular and unresolved arguments between parents can affect children in the long- term - with detrimental impacts on their educational outcomes and job prospects.

Causes of conflict between parents can include substance misuse, unemployment or trauma from their own upbringing, it said.

The programme, which launched in 2017, enables councils to fund therapy and local support services which touch on issues such as building parenting skills and healthy relationships between parents.

It also enables families to receive help during key periods of change, such as during pregnancy or when children start school.

Parents are referred to the programme through family support services, including health and social services.

Lords Minister for work and pensions, Baroness StedmanScott, said: “No parents want their arguments to affect their children, but sadly we know the distress can be mentally scarring, affecting school grades and even future job prospects.

“By promoting healthier relationships between parents we can help the children in those families have brighter futures.”