Your Life

Family Relationships

One thing is certain about families – they’re all different!

Families can include:

  • Grandparents, uncles and aunts and other relations
  • Foster parents, step-parents, step-children, or only one parent
  • Two parents living separately
  • Parents who have chosen to marry or those who have not
  • Parents of the same sex bringing up children

Sometimes, as you get older, you might find things in your family get a bit more difficult. What’s important for you may not seem to be important for your parents. You might want to keep things to yourself a bit more and this might make your family feel as though they are becoming excluded.

Your parents may find it difficult to 'let go' at just the time when you want to be more independent and it may be hard for them to let you start living your own life. Family members don't need to know all the details about what is going on in your life, often they just want to know that you'll be home when you say you will, something about where you plan to go and that you'll be safe when you're there.

If things seem to be getting bad it’s important that you talk to someone about it. Sometimes it might be enough to talk things through with your friends, your tutor could also help or you could contact your Connexions personal adviser.

CIDAS

The Children in Divorce and Separation Service (CIDAS) is now back in operation. At least one in three children or young people will experience parental separation before the age of 16. For most, this is a period of great unhappiness; many experience low self-esteem, behaviour problems and loss of contact with part of the extended family, all of which can have a negative impact on educational achievement. And for a small minority some problems can continue into adulthood.

The new service is being managed by a group of independent counsellors (Hycie Cumberbatch, Teresa Kyrkos, Ann Chapman and Gill Duguid), supported by local charity PACT (Parents and Children Together).

This service will offer help and support for children and young people aged 4-18 whose parents have separated or divorced. Providing a safe and confidential place for children to talk to experienced counsellors about the impact of their family circumstances. Referrals can be made through professionals, although self-referrals from parents or young people are preferred.

Address:

  • 3 Dogshead Street
  • Ipswich IP4 1AE
  • Telephone: 01473 232009

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