Sir Andrew McFarlane speaks at the conference
Over 300 professionals from across the family justice system came together at Tower Hamlets Town Hall for the East London Family Justice Board’s (ELFJB) annual conference this month, focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
Now in its second year and held during Kinship Care Week, the event convened a cross-sector audience, bringing together judges, social workers, legal professionals, and voluntary sector partners.
The conference was an opportunity to explore thought leadership, collaboration and practical insight to help lead to better, more stable futures for children.
The event was chaired by Her Honour Judge Carol Atkinson, Designated Family Judge for East London, who said:
“This year's East London Local Family Justice Board Conference was once again a phenomenal success. The conference could not happen without the hard work and support of those working on the Board.
“I am particularly grateful again to London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which offers us a most magnificent venue in which to make this happen. The Town Hall building in Tower Hamlets, sited in the heart of a visible bustling community, is an empowering space and the perfect place for those who are passionate about this work to meet and share ideas.”
Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, said:
“The vibrancy of this ELFJB is clear for all to see. There is no one organisation that delivers family justice - it depends on a range of different organisations working together towards a common cause of trying to get the cases through and do the right thing for children.
“It’s only by coming together at board level and at events like this conference that people can discuss shared issues and reinforce that we are better together.”
Deputy Mayor Maium Talukdar, Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, said:
“The East London Family Justice Board Conference is a powerful example of what can be achieved when passionate professionals come together to share knowledge and drive change.
“We are proud to have hosted and co-sponsored this important event for the second year running, reflecting our deep commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people across the family justice system.”
Key highlights of the conference included:
- A keynote address from Sir Andrew McFarlane, President of the Family Division, who praised the ELFJB’s vibrancy and the value of multi-agency collaboration.
- Four expert panels tackling urgent issues such as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, generational dynamic in relationships, adolescent brain development, and contextual safeguarding.
- A keynote address from Sophie Humphreys OBE titled ‘breaking the cycles’, which challenged attendees to rethink approaches to supporting vulnerable young people.
The conference also spotlighted Tower Hamlets’ pioneering Exploitation Service - a co-located, multi-agency model working alongside police to identify and disrupt criminal and sexual exploitation, serious youth violence, and gang affiliation. Recognised as a best practice model, the service combines area-based risk assessment with intensive, relationship-based interventions to safeguard children and young people.
Local experts Gursel Bekcan, Group Manager of the Exploitation Service, and Eniola Onigbano, Specialist Age Assessor in the Through Care Service, contributed to panel discussions, sharing insights on how creative, flexible engagement and enduring adult relationships can reduce harm and support young people to reach their full potential.
Guests were also joined by Jahnine Davis, the Department for Education’s National Kinship Care Ambassador, whose role involves advocating for kinship carers and improving kinship care services and supporting standards in England.
The conference was organised by members of the ELFJB, led by joint chairs Victoria Roberts and Deborah Piccos, and Sunil Scaria, Court Work Manager of Tower Hamlets.
This year’s ELFJB Conference reaffirmed the importance of integrated working and shared learning in driving better outcomes for children and families across East London.
Posted on Tuesday 28th October 2025