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Official Exhibitor at Starting Over Show

The Starting Over Show is the first UK event to help people bounce back from relationship break ups and life crises. On the day, we create a safe haven in which you can take professional advice to build the confidence and skills you need to go it alone.

A relationship break up can be the perfect time to make positive changes whether that’s starting up the business you always dreamed of, getting your pension sorted, or losing weight and taking more care of your health.

Visit SOS Village resource hub and get access to information, inspiration, and free resources. No advertisements – just lots of ways to help yourself start over at www.sos-village.org

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<h2>Official Exhibitor at Starting Over Show</h2>
<a href=”http://www.startingovershow.co.uk” target=”_self”>The Starting Over Show</a> is the first UK event to help people bounce back from relationship break ups and life crises. On the day, we create a safe haven in which you can take professional advice to build the confidence and skills you need to go it alone.

<a href=”http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/” target=”_self”><img class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-2230″ title=”exhibitor-ad_for_sos-poster1″ src=”http://www.startingovershow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/exhibitor-ad_for_sos-poster1.jpg” alt=”" width=”553″ height=”460″ /></a>

A relationship break up can be the perfect time to make positive changes whether that’s starting up the business you always dreamed of, getting your pension sorted, or losing weight and taking more care of your health.

Visit <a href=”http://www.starting-over.co.uk/”>SOS Village</a> resource hub and get access to information, inspiration, and free resources. No advertisements – just lots of ways to help yourself start over at <a href=”http://www.sos-village.org/”>www.sos-village.org</a>

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Official Exhibitor Starting Over Show

Over 60% of you will know someone RIGHT NOW going through divorce or break up.  Help them.  Tell them about Starting Over Show  www.StartingOverShow.co.uk.

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<h3>Official Exhibitors Starting Over Show</h3>
Over 60% of you will know someone RIGHT NOW going through divorce or break up.  Help them.  <a href=”http://www.startingovershow.co.uk” target=”_self”>Tell them about Starting Over Show  www.StartingOverShow.co.uk.</a>

Where are the private detectives?

NB: The following article is the sad but true situation underlying the lack of effective divorce law reform that has inspired SOS launching a Divorce Relationship Makeover initiative

With the vast majority of divorces being filed by women, and the most common reason being extra marital affairs, it’s not surprising that the process can easily become litigious, angry, and misery inducing. With ‘blame’ being integral to the process in order to divorce within 2 years thanks to ‘no fault divorce’ still not becoming part of divorce reform, the need for private detectives and DNA testers at the world’s first ever Divorce Fair in Austria in 2007 – a country with a nearly 50% divorce rate – was understandable.

So where were the private investigators and DNA testers at the first UK divorce fair in Brighton this March, and why will there be none exhibiting at the first London divorce fair next Spring?

SOS Brighton and SOS London March 2010 have a different focus, and one not a million miles away from the recent Centre for Social Justice report “Every Family Matters”. SOS does not stand for ’save our souls’ but ‘Starting Over Show’, and both events not only make clear that Private Detectives will not be exhibiting, but aim to encourage a holistic and non combative approach to divorce and relationship breakup.

As the creator of the Starting Over Shows, I feel that where children are involved, we just have to go against the aggressive divorce culture exacerbated by media hype around angry celebrity breakups, and focus on the positive future we want for ourselves and our children. The focus of our events is not so much about getting through a difficult time – it’s more about starting over by getting the right information and inspiration before all communication breaks down. It’s really about offering hope.

In the Grant Thornton’s Forensic and Investigation Services sixth annual survey, they canvassed the opinions of 70 of the UK s leading family lawyers.

Covering the period 2007 to 2008, the level of cases in which assets are concealed has continued at similar levels to previous years. In such cases, it has been more common for the concealment to be an action of the husband (91% of the cases). In 2008 there were no cases (2% in 2007) of the concealment resulting from the actions of a wife.

Extra marital affairs are cited as the most common reason for divorce in both years. However, worryingly, between 2007 and 2008 there have been a significant increase in the rise of ‘abuse’ and ‘financial worries’ cited as the most common reason for divorce.

As the recession deepens, it is hard to be optimistic about these trends not continuing in the same direction, which makes the lack of legal protection for couples who live together even more of an issue.

All the solicitors surveyed by Grant Thornton have advised on cohabitation agreements over the last year, an increase from 97% in 2007. Yet most couples are unaware that common law marriage is effectively a myth.

With a rise in couples cohabiting, we are seeing a growing number of lawyers demanding clarity and guidance over the issue of cohabitation and couples rights if they do separate. In the eyes of the Courts common law marriage does not hold the same legal rights as it does for married couples, however many cohabiting couples often do not realise this until it is too late.

One in six couples in the UK co-habit – a figure that is predicted to rise to one in four by 2031. This is why Lord Lester has introduced the Cohabitation Bill, which received its second reading in the Lords on 30 July 09.

But let’s not lose our perspective here: the Grant Thornton study reveals that although women continue to file for divorce in 91% of cases, in all but 3% of cases, (up from 2% in 2007), the divorces are not contested.

This means that in the vast majority of cases, the decision to divorce begins with a mutual desire for both parties to end the marriage. So why is there so much misery surrounding the divorce process?

A positive trend which may improve the situation is the rise in the number of lawyers training in collaborative techniques. The Grant Thornton survey shows that the number of respondents trained as collaborative lawyers has increased to 50%, up 2% on 2007 and there has also been an increase in lawyers intending to undergo the necessary training (up to 13% from 11% in 2007).

But who really knows what collaborative lawyers do, or even that they exist?

I’m keen to change that situation. I was amazed to find out only a couple of years ago about collaborative lawyers and financial mediators, not so much because of what they do, but because I never even knew they existed. I want to use the Starting Over Show events as a platform to raise awareness of the wide number of choices open to people facing breakup and divorce.

The Centre for Social Justice Report concludes that: “there should now be strong Government encouragement of couples getting married to take part in high-quality, standardised and accredited pre-marriage information and preparation, delivered in an accessible fashion.”

I believe that much of the information and advice available at the Starting Over Events helps prepare people to not only leave their current relationship with some dignity, but also effectively prepares them for a healthier relationship in the future. You never really know someone till you break up with them – this is something many of us have discovered to our cost.  But it is also true that you can get to know yourself pretty well too. If you can manage to break up well by keeping a long term view, the lines of communication open and maintaining hope, then you will also develop skills that will be valuable in keeping your next relationship healthy and strong.

The Social Justice Executive Summary doesn’t only quote Mr Justice Coleridge’s comments on how the Government “is allowing the whole family justice system to be starved to death”. There is also a quote from ‘Angela, daughter 11, son 10′ – which strikes to core of the matter. “As long as solicitors and Society continue to view divorce and custody as adversarial, ie. That there should be a ‘winning’ and a ‘losing’ side, then the issue of where the children from these relationships should spend their time will be a painful, expensive battleground for those involved.”

A pity perhaps, that the same report does not include recommendations for introducing ‘no fault’ divorce.

References:

Centre for Social Justice: Breakthrough Britain – Every Family Matters

Grant Thornton “Boom or bust for divorce?”

First two SOS networking events 2009

Exhibitors like to get to know each other better. It’s part of what creates such a great atmosphere at the Starting Over Show live events….

Grant Thornton Divorce Survey

To see the most recent Grant Thornton Divorce Survery, click here….  grantthorntondivorce_survey

Bennett Griffin free legal surgery Brighton SOS

At SOS Brighton 28 March 2010, south coast law firm Bennett Griffin’s team of Resolution accredited family experts will be offering free, confidential advice during 15-minute surgery consultations covering everything from achieving a fair financial settlement, to attending mediation to resolve issues about contact with your children.

It is advisable to book your space at the free legal surgery in advance by contacting Bennett Griffin and letting them know you would like a free initial consultation to learn how they can help you.

Family Law team

Peter Laverick (Consultant) – Email Peter
Jackie Mensah (Associate Solicitor) – Email Jackie
Jackie Gifford (Legal Executive) – Email Jackie

Star in our SOS divorce relationship makeover

Information for divorce and breakup

Inspiration for Starting Over

TWO NEW SOS LIVE EVENTS – Help someone you know by bringing them along to SOS London or SOS Brighton next March.  For dates and venues click here.

Inspiration

Free legal and wellbeing advice surgeries in return for sharing your experience to help others

“I have the best Ex in the world!”

Wouldn’t you like to be able to say that? Wouldn’t you like to BE the best Ex if you’re contemplating or going through a divorce?

Not only can the SOS Divorce Relationship Makeover provide the tool kit needed to succeed, but you could be chosen to receive it all for free. This opportunity is made possible thanks to the generosity of a group of the exhibitors who will be at the Starting Over Shows.

Even better – you can let us share your experiences with others via our website, (and possibly a TV documentary), so that while you are guided through the divorce process in a holistic way others in the same situation can learn valuable lessons on how to make their own transition towards being the best Ex in the world.TM

Find out how to participate click here…. or email me at suzy(at)startingovershow.co.uk

information

Are you financially worse off after divorce or break up if you never tied the knot? 

Many people don’t realise this, but common law marriage doesn’t exist, and the financial implications of breakup during a recession can be very different depending on whether or not you have legally tied the knot. A survey by Starting Over Show (SOS) reveals that over 86% of the participants personally know someone going through a relationship break up or divorce during the last two years, and SOS believes that statistic is likely to increase due to the financial pressures of the current recession…..

Read the rest of the article here….

win something good

Send us your own starting over story to share – written or even email us an audio or video recording (max 12 minutes long), that we can share with others via our resource site to inspire them to start over.  Even if it is just letting us know that you have made the first steps in the right direction.

As a thank you we can send you something nice, like a copy of Anna Pasternak’s hilariously funny and witty novel “daisy dooley does divorce”.

If you visited our Brighton SOS event this March, and found it useful and share that in your story, you will get a little something extra!

Email your story to Suzy at suzy (at) startingovershow.co.uk

shared stories

March 2nd 2006 -

I came home from work (at my mind-numbing and soul-destroying accounts job at the Daily Mail) to my clearly very distraught Wife….

She told me that night that we weren’t working.

That our marriage wasn’t working..

And that worst of all.. she wasn’t in love with me anymore.

It killed me…it tore me to shreds. I hit rock bottom harder than I’d ever known.

And oh my God it hurt.

But…

Looking back – it was without a doubt the best thing that ever happened to me……

Read the rest of James’ story here….

See other personal stories here:

sos live event news

Two brand new events planned for March 2010 in London & Brighton

You can talk to our exhibitors now by contacting them via their websites

BBC Radio Sussex Interview including Suzy talking about the SOS Divorce Relationship Makeover

diary of a sole parent

Dating in the Dark by @suzymiller

Those first terrifying tentative steps into dating after 10 years of solid coupledom and 6 years of motherhood seem, looking back on it, like scenes from an old black and white comedy. Not just any old comedy either – one without any sound except the relentless plug of the piano and a plot line that threatened at any time to tumble from absurd humour into a heart-rending tragedy.

And the main narrative of these comedies? Dating sites and speed networking of course – de rigeur for the modern single woman, who wants a wider choice than that offered by the beer soaked local hostelries or the few loan single men brave enough (and smart enough, if they want a ratio of 10 women to 1 man) to Salsa in the village hall. Keeping those delights as part of my ’social’ life, I took those first bold steps into actual concerted dating via the enticing promise of online shopping for men…..

Read the rest of the article here…..

networking links

Other great resources for starting over

To find professionals who are all personally recommended visit CertainShops – professionals online

Follow us on Twitter: @sosDIVORCE

In partnership with:

Starting Over Show
www.startingovershow.co.uk

All the things you need to know about breaking up and starting over in one SOS

Useful Information
Honest Communication
Personal Transformation

Starting Over Show is part of Certain Shops Ltd. Tel: 0208 8167281  Textphone 18001 0208 8167281
www.certainshops.com Registered in England & Wales  Company no. 5685386  VAT no. 880175810
Registered office North Park Lodge  South Street  East Hoathly  Lewes  E Sussex  BN8 6DS

How can ‘colour’ help me start over?

Bernay Laity: in:colour Colour psychologist and image consultant

Our aim is to help you work consciously with colour to improve your well-being and communicate the right messages to the world.

Free SOS divorce relationship makeover

Free SOS divorce makeover™

Free legal and wellbeing advice surgeries in return for sharing your experience to help others

Click here to download information pack: sos-divorce-makeover-2110093

Are you embarking on the journey of divorce, or still trying to convince yourself – now the decree absolute is through – that it’s all done and dusted?

 There are more ways – positive, proactive and exciting ways – to access legal, financial and wellbeing advice than you might have thought.

Join us for our SOS divorce makeover™ and you can sample the power of financial mediation, collaborative law, parenting advice, style makeovers and other self esteem boosting (and fun!) experiences at the hands of our Starting Over Show exhibitors.  

And if you are willing to share your experiences (not your private lives, just your thoughts and feelings about how these professionals can help you start over) in order to open the eyes of others who also want to ’start over’ afresh, then you can try out these life changing experiences for free.

If you are interested in being chosen for this ground breaking project, which will involve you being able (at your convenience) to attend legal, mediation, financial, style makeover and relationship surgeries normally amounting to thousands of pounds, (but free to you), please email Suzy ASAP suzy@startingovershow.co.uk

Help others find healthier ways to rebuild their lives – help yourself truly start over in style

Who will be providing this legal, financial and wellbeing  ‘Makeover’?

They’re a great bunch of people, who recognise that this is not about staying friends THROUGH the process (that’s pretty tough and not always very realistic) but it’s more about keeping your integrity when under great pressure, knowing that in only a short few years life could be very much better if you don’t burn all your bridges between now and then.  With the right support at the right time, you can get through a difficult process feeling informed, supported, and let’s face it, you could save a great deal of money too.

Who are some of the team generously providing their time and expertise to help you?   Literally 1,000’s of pounds worth of support at no charge to you?*

See some of the specialists involved who are providing free help to a couple going through divorce:

Click here to download full information pack: sos-divorce-makeover-2110093

We already have two courageous women who are going to share their starting over experience with us, and benefit from a range of inspirational support and good information via our SOS team.

See Michelle’s story here…..

See Liz’s story here……

Real people “Talking about the Ex”….

BBC Radio Sussex Interview including Suzy talking about the SOS Divorce Relationship Makeover

Audience reach of press coverage SOS 2009 event

Press Coverage

This included local and national newspapers, local and national and on-line. In some publications there was print as well as on-line coverage, and circulation figures shown where known.

Pre Show

Independent on Sunday – 170,000

You magazine

Daily Mail – 2,187,428

Telegraph – 827,376

The Argus – 40,000

BBC Radio 4 – You and Yours – 9.982,000

Alan Titchmarsh – ITV1

BBC News on line

The Scotsman – 51,135

Sunday Herald – Scotland – 43,915

BBC Sussex (twice) – 277,000

BBC Radio Kent – 235,000

Sovereign Radio

Meridian TV

Mercury FM – 85,000

East Grinstead Courier

Divorce Diva.com

Virgin media

AOL News

Marie Claire.com

Southern FM – on line

Denbeighshire Free Press

United World.org

Playvybe Radio

CityTalk Radio

Edinburgh Evening News – 49,367

Rye and Battle Observer

LBC – 630,000

Press Association

Telegraph – 827,376

Portsmouth Today

Edmonton Sun

Splash FM

Bright FM

Radio Reverb

RTE- Irish National Radio

Tg.com – Italy

Five Live (two interviews) – 6,211,000

Premier Christian Radio – 113,000

BBC News 24

C4 News

The Law Practice

So Feminine

Washington Post – 2,113, 725

United World.org

BBC Radio Leicester

BBC Radio Lincolnshore

BBC Somerset

MetroNews.ca

Action News (US TV)

The Western Australian – 11,252

4FM

Palm Beach Post

Seattle Pi.com

Yahoo News

Premier Christian website – negative

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Post event

BBC Radio 2 – Wake Up to Wogan – 13,457,000

PR Inside.com – Austria

BBC Newcastle

Travelmole.com

Expoabc.com

Event Magazine

BBC News on line

BBC South East

BBC Essex – 252,000

BBC Sussex

BBC Leeds – 214,000

BBC Devon

BBC Newcastle

Blatterskit.com

Traveloscipy.com

Times of India

The Sunday Express – 638,416

The Sun – 2,997,993

The Guardian – 343,065

Telegraph

Associated Press

International Herald Tribune – 242,182

The Canadian Press

Taipei Times

The Star – South Africa

Daily Express – Vanessa Phelps column (negative) – 725,085

Comment piece in Independent (negative) – 205,488

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