Birmingham: A powerful group of parents who overcame addiction and rebuilt their families have been shortlisted for a major regional honour after using their lived experiences to transform national legal policy.
The Coventry and Warwickshire Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) parent graduates are finalists for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s Outstanding Campaign Award. Having successfully navigated recovery and fought to be reunited with their children, these resilient parents now use their personal journeys to influence policy, practice and academic research at both a regional and national level.
The graduates, pictured above, act as Parent Associates with the Centre for Justice Innovation, taking their clear message – that families facing trauma need compassion, consistency and sustained support – directly to senior leaders. Their ground-breaking advocacy work includes:
Judicial education: Sharing direct personal insights with senior figures from the judiciary, social care and CAFCASS (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service).
National research: Actively contributing to vital academic studies exploring fathers’ unique experiences during care proceedings.
Systemic reform: Celebrating a decade of innovation with the Coventry and Warwickshire FDAC, while fiercely campaigning to expand problem-solving courts across the country.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster praised their advocacy, stating: “These finalists show the extraordinary power of campaigning to make a real difference… turning incredibly difficult personal experiences into a force for positive action and change.”
Solihull Moors Foundation nominated for using football to tackle violence
Also named as a finalist for the Outstanding Campaign Award is the Solihull Moors Foundation, recognised for leveraging the massive reach of football to challenge and change attitudes and behaviours to tackle violence against women and girls.
Partnering with West Midlands Police, the foundation has backed the White Ribbon ‘We Speak Up’ campaign and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to encourage men and boys to call out harmful behaviour. The charity also actively champions equality through community events during National Hate Crime Awareness Week.
The final winner will be announced at the Outstanding Citizens’ Awards on Monday, September 28, 2026, at the Coventry Boys and Girls Club.
