The Family Rights Group are a charity who aim to promote the well-being of children and families and are currently celebrating their 40th year.
The charity was formed in response to the injustices experienced by many parents involved with social services (now known as children’s services) and the unnecessary separation of children from their families.
“It is a fundamental human right of every child to be raised by their parents and of every parent to raise their child, provided it is safe. Where this is not possible, there is strong evidence that children are more likely to thrive within their wider family network than within the care system.”
The Family Rights Group offer a wide range of advice and support to parents, carers and children.
The work of Family Rights Group includes:
- Offering a free and confidential telephone advice service and website providing legal and practical advice to families involved with social care services
- Supporting family and friends carers who are raising a relative or friend’s child, establishing local support groups for these carers and seeking to ensure they can get the support they need from children’s services and other agencies
- Promoting family group conferences as an effective family-led decision making process which provides safe solutions to child welfare concerns
- Advocating for parents whose children are subject to child protection inquiries or at risk of being removed into care
- Promoting legislation, policy and practice that respects the right to family life and promotes and safeguards children’s welfare
- Undertaking policy and research projects, offering training and consultancy services, producing publications and organising conferences and events.
40th Anniversary Appeal
The Family Rights Group was founded in 1974 by a group of social workers, lawyers and families. It is now celebrating 40 years of service and is launching an anniversary appeal involving a host of special events and fundraisers.
Alan Johnson MP will be giving a talk on 5th June about his new book, This Boy, detailing his childhood being cared for by his older sister in London. Tickets can be bought online via the Family Rights Group website.
You can also take part in many sporting activities to support the charity including: The London Legal Walk, The Great North Run and The Royal Parks Half Marathon.
Details can be found on the website here.
All pictures are taken from the Family Rights Group Facebook page, which can be found here.