A Government programme aimed at reducing the harmful effects of “parent conflict” on children has awarded funds to a charity in Harrow.

Tavistock Relationships was awarded over £213,000 for its family support initiative as part of the Department for Work and Pensions’ Reducing Parental Conflict Challenge Fund.

Harrow Times:

Minister for family support, housing and child maintenance Will Quince MP talking to guests

The couples’ counselling charity will work with parents in Harrow with learning difficulties or poor mental health to find new ways to support disadvantaged families at risk of parental conflict.

Tavistock Relationships was one of ten successful Challenge Fund applicants.

The charity will offer “Mentalisation Based Therapy’” to help parents focus on their feelings and emotions and on those of their partners and children.

Harrow Times:

Guests at the launch in London

The group said children exposed to harmful levels of parental conflict can have poorer social and emotional development, impacting their performance in school and in later life.

Honour Rhodes, director of strategic development at Tavistock Relationships, said: “Tavistock Relationships is so delighted to be given the opportunity to help parents who are struggling with poor quality relationships and the burden that poor mental health or a learning difficulty brings.

“Parental conflict harms children’s outcomes but we can help parents’ co-parent better and help children feel secure and loved, even when parents are finding their own relationship difficult.”

The minister for family support, housing and child maintenance Will Quince MP said he was “committed” to ensuring parents can access support to resolve conflict.