Setting out the stall

This chapter first explains the author's motivation for writing this book. It then sets out the basic questions which this book seeks to address: Against the harsher economic and political climate, how will the interests of children be protected when their parent's relationship runs into difficulties leading to separation and divorce? Above all, will more and more children feel sidelined? Will they find that their needs for support and information are ignored when having to cope with stressful problems at home? These are important questions, particularly as there is mounting evidence of the potentially adverse consequences for their education, social wellbeing and mental health — to say nothing of the likelihood that some will be at risk of serious abuse and/or exploitation.