Ten areas get funding to help separated families

The £4.75m project aims to provide more support for separated parents and their families, through local services including counselling, mediation, practical and legal support.

Plans for the pilots were originally announced at the Relationship Summit in December 2008, but schools minister Vernon Coaker yesterday revealed the ten pilot areas.

"These pilots will look at how services can be better tailored to the needs of families during very difficult times. As well as improving life chances for children, these pilots aim to improve the health and economic wellbeing of families during relationship breakdowns. They are another vital step in our commitment to eradicating child poverty by 2020," he said.

The pilots will be delivered in Leeds, Hartlepool, Lincolnshire, Harlow, Swindon, Camden, Merton, Coventry, Plymouth and Manchester, Salford and Oldham.

More than 90 per cent of parents responding to a 2008 survey by the Kids in the Middle campaign felt that more should be done to support families during separation.