Nick Woodall is a writer and consultant on family separation and fatherhood. He is particularly interested in understanding men’s responses to separation and how they conceive and discharge their ongoing parenting role. More...

As the Welfare Reform Bill makes its way through the House of Lords, the controversy surrounding those elements relating to the proposed reforms of the child-maintenance system shows no sign of abating either inside or outside parliament. My recent article for Parliamentary Brief magazine explains why I support the changes. Read the article here

How negative stereotypes influence policy and legislation

Family separation has been a battleground for many decades, with successive governments attempting to deal with the social and fiscal impact of increasing numbers of divorced and separated families and pressure groups fighting to influence policy and debate in ways that uphold the particular experiences of the groups they represent; whether they be mothers or fathers. But how do negative stereotypes influence policy makers and practitioners? Read more here

BBC Online: new parenting information. 

In 2011, I updated the Separated Parents pages of the BBC website. The new content examines the impact of separation on parents including specific information for mums and dads, helping children to adjust to the changes that are happening around them and how to work together for the sake of children. View BBC Family Matters online here.

• Survey of separated fathers records experiences in the aftermath of family breakdown here
• How the ‘runaway dads’ message hinders the Coalition’s family policy aspirations here
• Why you should praise a child's effort not intelligence here
• Government to increase take up of relationship advice here
• Tackling social workers' anti-men attitudes here
• Couples to get free counselling here
• Children need a firm parent before they need a friend here
• Lord chief justice calls for reform of family system here
• Legislation of choice for getting rid of dads here

Winston's Wish

When you and your children are trying to come to terms with the death of someone important, it is hard to know how to deal with difficult behaviour. Often, as a parent, you are at your lowest ebb yourself, so that makes it doubly – or perhaps trebly – difficult to pick a useful way through. Really helpful advice.

Kids Health

'Healthy self-esteem is a child's armor against the challenges of the world.' A great article from Kids Health on developing children's self-esteem.

Family Separation: a guide for teens

Published by the Australian CSA, this is a fantastic resource to help young people deal with the challenges of family separation.Subjects covered include emotions, wellbeing and dealing with change.