Family court scheme extended to new areas

A family court scheme designed to spare families, children and domestic abuse victims the pain of going to court has been expanded.

Since its launch in 2022, the Pathfinder scheme has reduced family court backlogs in pilot areas by half.

It was first introduced in north Wales and Dorset and then extended to Birmingham and south-east Wales.

And now it’s being rolled out in the rest of Wales and West Yorkshire.

What does Pathfinder do?

The scheme was created to improve information sharing between the courts, the police and local authorities, so family disputes could be settled more quickly.

Pathfinder also gives extra support to victims of domestic abuse.

Lord Ponsonby, the family justice minister, said: “For too long, families have been pitted against each other in the court room, or abusers have hijacked proceedings to continue campaigns of cruelty. 

“Children and vulnerable people bear the brunt of this, and it must stop.

He added that Pathfinder offers a “less adversarial approach” and is “another important step to achieving our promise of halving violence against women and girls”.

Family mediation voucher scheme extended for a year

Meanwhile, the government’s family mediation vouchers scheme is being extended to March next year.

The programme provides £500 to help couples resolve issues before they get to court, and so far, it has helped almost three-quarters reach a whole or partial agreement.

Since the scheme was introduced nearly four years ago, the number of applications made to court has dropped significantly.

This is not only saving taxpayers millions of pounds, but also helping families avoid a lengthy and distressing court process.

Are you entitled to benefits?

If you’ve recently split up from your partner or escaping a domestic violence situation, it’s well worth finding out the full range of support you could get.

For example, you might be able to claim universal credit, get help through the household support fund, or get a reduction on your council tax.

Check what benefits you could be able to get with our free benefits calculator.

And if you’re struggling with debts, just get in touch for free and impartial advice.