Launch Date: Wednesday 20 January 2010

Closing Date: Wednesday 21 April 2010

This Green Paper sets out a wide range of measures to support all families as they bring up their children and to help families cope with times of stress and difficulty. The proposals recognise that while all families need some help, there are families in our society with complex needs and others who require additional - and sometimes non-negotiable - support.

The Paper's proposals aim to influence factors that can strengthen or weaken family life, such as the choices available about balancing employment with bringing up children; and how welcoming and accessible public services are to families of all kinds.

The Paper focuses mostly on supporting family relationships by enabling families to help themselves. It also considers the position of children and other family members when family relationships have broken down.

Some of the policy proposals can be implemented straight away; others are for consultation or will take longer to put into place.

National consultation event, 2^nd March 2010

During the February half term we listened to the views of families at five different locations across the country: South Shields, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Bognor Regis. In addition to this, we will be holding a national consultation event in London on 2 March for people and organisations that have an interest in supporting families and/or work directly with them.

The event provides an opportunity to provide structured and facilitated feedback on the proposals and questions in the Green Paper as well as opportunities for unprompted discussion and networking.

Our conference organisers, Crown Business Communications, will be managing this event on our behalf. Places are limited. If you would like to attend the event please email dcsfgreenpaper@crownbc.com or by phone on 020 7605 4508.

• Read the consultation document on-line
• Respond on-line
• Support for All: the Families and Relationships Green Paper -pdf
• Supporting information from the Ministry of Justice on mediation - word
• Support for All - Summary booklet- pdf
• Summary Consultation Document - word
• Response Form - word

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/index.cfm?action=consultationDetail...