reunite was founded in 1987 by a group of parents who were using their own experiences of parental child abduction to support each other. This ethos of support and sharing knowledge has remained at the centre of our work and continues to shape the services we provide today.
Advice Line
We operate the UK’s only specialised advice line for information and support on parental child abduction and the international movement of children.
In 2019 the Advice Line managed over 21,000 calls from the UK and around the world and in excess of 1,500 new cases.
The advice line team provides ongoing advice, information and support on a range of circumstances including:
- Prevention of abduction
- The abduction of a child
- Contact across international borders
- Relocating a child to another country
‘I stumbled upon reunite on the internet and they showed me what it really meant to have someone who genuinely cares. Their exceptional professionalism and continuous support played a crucial role in the successful outcome of my case.’
– Daniel, a father
Mediation
In 2000 we pioneered the use of mediation in cases of international parental child abduction, a forum in which it was previously thought mediation could not be possible or successful. Today, the mediation team is a well-established service that manages over 200 referrals each year.
Our team has expertise in international children’s cases, which they use to help parents explore arrangements that are focused on the best interests of their children.
Policy and Research
An important aspect of our work is to take the experiences and concerns raised by parents and share them to shape decision-making on a national and international level. Parents share with us the realities of dealing with international family breakdowns, and their voices and experiences need to be brought to the fore so the situation for them and families dealing with such cases in the future can be bettered.
We work with government departments, NGOs and other stakeholders both here in the UK and across the world to develop processes and practices that benefit all families that are touched by these complex and emotionally challenging situations.
We also undertake projects that will be beneficial to parents and policymakers alike. Such projects have included research on the outcomes of child abduction cases, the creation of our Prevention Guides, hosting events to share knowledge with professionals, responding to government consultations, and intervening in court cases, both in the UK and overseas, where there is a public interest.
To find out more about our policy and research work click here.
