Western Mail, 23rd December 2008
TWO leading Cardiff-based family lawyers have taken up senior management committee roles to help strengthen the operations of two major charities in the region.

Thea Hughes, joint managing partner of Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, and colleague solicitor Jane Baker have been appointed respectively to the management committees of Family Mediation Cardiff, and Cruse Bereavement Care.

Both charities will benefit from the advice of the two lawyers, members of Wales’ largest specialist family law firm.

Cruse Bereavement Care is the leading charity in the UK specialising in bereavement, with 178 branches and more than 6,300 volunteers throughout the UK

It provides counselling and support for people suffering bereavement including a great deal of support for children and young people who have lost a parent.

Ms Baker said: “This is such a worthwhile charity and I am very pleased to have accepted an invitation to join its management committee.

“Cruse’s services are provided freely due to the generosity of individuals and grant-making bodies and clearly one of the issues we will be facing going forward will be securing adequate financial support to ensure the ongoing provision of support.”

Family Mediation Cardiff is an independent charity founded in 1982 to provide a confidential service to all regardless of income. It exists to help couples, married or unmarried, to put the needs and well-being of their children first and to reach agreements about their future parenting.
Ms Hughes said: “The organisation is staffed by trained and qualified mediators who also have many years experience in other related fields such as social work, family law and counselling.

“I’m looking forward to putting the experience I have in all aspects of family law to supporting the mediation centre’s work.”

Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice, based in Windsor Place, Cardiff is one of UK’s largest specialist family law firms, covering all aspects of family law.