At the time of some of the biggest cuts to legal aid, parents who are going through a separation can now still access free help and advice thanks to new government funding awarded to Howells Solicitors.
The government has announced today (10th April) that £1.4m of funding for a new scheme provided by Howells Solicitors will give parents extra support to help them to work together for the sake of their children. It will target parents who are outside the scope of legal aid, particularly middle income families.
The new scheme will allow 2000 parents across South Yorkshire to receive free family legal advice, help with debt, benefits, employment and housing issues and to access counselling and mediation in a bid to help couples resolve their problems without having to resort to the expense and stress of going through the courts.
Project Manager Sue Colven from Howells Solicitors, said “Howells is delighted to be able to provide free help and advice to separating parents in South Yorkshire. The new service will comprise free family mediation, counselling, and legal advice on all the issues thrown up by separation. We will work with local parents to make their break up as stress-free as possible so that they can concentrate on what is important – working together for the sake of their children.”
The scheme, which will run for 2 years, is designed to reduce the impact and stress of separation and the aim is to avoid confrontation, court action and involvement of the Child Support Agency by promoting agreements between parents about children.
Howells has been awarded part of a £6.5m government fund that will support over a quarter of a million separated parents in Britain. The funding, announced by ministers for is the first of two rounds of funding for innovative projects to help parents and is part of up to £20m dedicated to supporting separated families.
For more information or to make an appointment at Howells, call 0114 2496709, 01709 364 000 or 01226 805 190.
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