On 6 November, the Town Hall at Tower Hamlets became the epicentre of family law discourse, hosting a sold-out event organised and led by Victoria Roberts, barrister with Coram Chambers.
The inaugural East London Local Family Justice Board conference, themed “Relationships – People, Practice and Family Justice,” attracted over 300 participants from various local authorities and services across East London and featured presentations on projects which illustrate best practice in East London.
The day began with an impressive opening by our Designated Family Judge, HHJ Atkinson, followed by a warm welcome from Steve Reddy, Director of Children’s Services in Tower Hamlets. The keynote address, delivered by Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, set an inspiring tone for a day filled with collective learning and engagement, all centred around the theme of fostering relationships and sharing knowledge within family justice practices.
Attendees were captivated by a showcase on local excellence, which Victoria Roberts chaired, featuring presentations from several figures in local family justice and service. Notable contributions came from Lisa Lucas of the Lifelong Links initiative from Barking and Dagenham, as well as Charlotte Moodie and Djamila Aggabi from the Diamond Project in Tower Hamlets. Michael Radley from the Therapeutic Hub in Sutton, Dr Amy Ludlow and Severine Aare from Shift in Bexley, and Katie Walker from FDAC also shared valuable perspectives, further enriching the discussions.
A thought-provoking session followed, moderated by Alison Easton, joint head of Coram Chambers, focusing on “Building Relationships in the Most Difficult Cases – A Conversation About Risk.” The panel featured Dr. Charles Musters, Dr. Gerard Drennan, and Rachel Sensicle, who brought real-life examples to the table, enhancing the understanding of managing risk in sensitive family scenarios.
After the attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, dynamic discussions followed, including a panel on “Communication and Neurodiversity” led by Deborah Piccos. In this session, experts from various fields shared their experiences, observations and guidance that concluded with a robust Q&A. The anticipation surrounding forthcoming guidance written by Caroline Croft, co-founder of FLANC and barrister at Coram Chambers, indicates an ongoing commitment to support this important area of family justice.
A crucial topic of the day, ‘Transparency and the Media’, was discussed in a panel chaired by HHJ Reardon, featuring influential figures, including HHJ Atkinson, Deirdre Fottrell KC, Amy Williams (A8 Consultancy), Samantha McKoy (London Borough of Newham) and Katie Inman from the BBC. Their perspectives shed light on the delicate balance between media coverage and family privacy.
The day concluded with closing remarks from Sir Alistair MacDonald, Family Presider for London, followed by a drinks reception sponsored by Our Family Wizard, allowing participants to continue meaningful conversations in a more informal setting.
The East London Local Family Justice Board expressed heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, especially the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, for their generous support.
With the overwhelmingly positive response to this inaugural event, there is a strong expectation that this will become an annual fixture in the family justice calendar, fostering ongoing collaboration and innovation in the field.
As the landscape of family law evolves, the information and collaborative nature of this event are sure to resonate throughout the community and influence future practices in family justice.
Watch this space for updates on next year’s event!
