Conference season for the Humber LFJB is now over! On Friday 18th October 2019 the LFJB hosted its 2019 Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Hull with panache. The event was sponsored by Chambers and was supported by over 180 delegates, comprising the local family judiciary and magistrates, family lawyers, social workers, Cafcass and our resident High Sheriff, Sue Stephenson.
Our retiring DFJ, HHJ Heaton QC, introduced the Conference and in particular The Right Honourable Lord Justice Baker who gave an opening address. We then had contributions from Damian Garrido QC, DS Adrian Adamson (Humberside Police), Martin Parry (Emeritus Reader in Law at Hull University), consultant child psychologists, Drs Ritchie and Hardy and Paul Hunter who talked about the impact of substance misuse on our cases from a forensic perspective.
We were all inspired by a talk on behalf of the Young Peoples’ Family Justice Board, Katie Goldstraw, herself a family law student at Derby in her final year, who very bravely and eloquently shared her own personal experience of the family justice system with our delegates.
Following a question and answer session towards the end we were then totally “blown away” by our grand finale. Claire Basker, a social worker from North Lincolnshire, introduced us to her fantastic choir made up of children aged between 8 years and care leavers age, all of whom are currently in the care system. They are the fantastic One Voice Choir and they treated us all to three very inspiring songs from the charts that these brave children had selected themselves. There was not a dry eye in the house and the feedback received since Friday has understandably sought to highlight the bravery and determination of these young people. Quite apart from the fact that the performance of their music was wonderful in itself. Needless to say the One Voice Choir finished to a standing ovation.
Thank you to all the barristers in the family team who worked tirelessly in the lead up to this event, to our unflappable clerk, Hayley Naylor, who managed everything from beginning to end and most of all to everyone who supported this very worthwhile event by being there. We very much hope to see you all again when Conference Season 2020 arrives!
Sally Collins
