Post-Christmas splits face first holiday pressure test as mediation funding deadline looms
Thousands of couples who split after Christmas are about to face their first major parenting test - February half term.
January is widely recognised as the peak month for relationship breakdown. Just weeks later, newly separated parents are navigating their first school holiday apart - often without formal childcare arrangements in place.
NFM (National Family Mediation) warns that this combination of raw emotions, disrupted routines and time off school can create a perfect storm for conflict.
Sarah Hawkins, CEO of NFM, said: “January is one of the busiest times of year for separations. By half term, families are still adjusting to new living arrangements and financial pressures. The holiday can suddenly expose gaps in communication and planning.”
She continued: “For many parents, this is the first real-world test of how separation will work. Children just want a normal week off school. When parents are uncertain about arrangements, tensions can rise quickly - and children feel that.”
The warning comes just weeks before the government’s Family Mediation Voucher Scheme is currently due to end in March, with no confirmed extension. The scheme provides up to £500 towards mediation costs for eligible separating families with children and has already helped tens of thousands of families resolve disputes without going to court, reducing pressure on the family justice system.
“With funding potentially ending soon there is a narrow window for families to access support, but there is still time” Sarah Hawkins added. “Mediation helps parents step back from conflict and put clear, practical agreements in place - not just for this half term, but for Easter and the summer holidays ahead.”
Legal aid remains available for those who qualify, ensuring mediation is accessible to families who need it most.
Established in 1982, NFM operates through more than 500 locations across England and Wales and supports around 16,000 families each year to reach child-focused agreements following separation.
As half term approaches and funding deadlines draw closer, NFM is also calling on the Government to confirm what will happen next for the scheme.
Sarah added: “We are calling for urgent confirmation that the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme will continue. If this support is withdrawn, it would be a disaster for many families who want to separate constructively and avoid unnecessary conflict.
“Mediation keeps decisions in parents’ hands and protects children from the stress of court. Removing that pathway now would risk pushing more families into already overstretched courtrooms.”
To find out more about family mediation, legal aid eligibility or the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, visit www.nfm.org.uk.