Activity conditions: CA 1989 s. 11C
Activity conditions under CA 1989 s. 11C: individuals required to take part in activities to improve child involvement in family proceedings.
11C This section applies if in any family proceedings the court makes— a child arrangements order containing— provision for a child to live with different persons at different times, provision regulating arrangements relating to with whom a child is to spend time or otherwise have contact, or provision regulating arrangements relating to when a child is to spend time or otherwise have contact with any person; or an order varying a child arrangements order so as to add, vary or omit provision of a kind mentioned in paragraph (a)(i), (ii) or (iii). The child arrangements order may impose, or the child arrangements order may be varied so as to impose, a condition (an “activity condition”) requiring an individual falling within subsection (3) to take part in an activity that would, in the court's opinion, help to establish, maintain or improve the involvement in the life of the child concerned of— that individual, or another individual who is a party to the proceedings. An individual falls within this subsection if he is— for the purposes of the child arrangements order so made or varied, a person with whom the child concerned lives or is to live; a person whose contact with the child concerned is provided for in that order; or a person upon whom that order imposes a condition under section 11(7)(b). The condition is to specify the activity and the person providing the activity. Subsections (5) and (6) of section 11A have effect as regards the activities that may be required by an activity condition as they have effect as regards the activities that may be required by an activity direction. Subsection (2) has effect subject to the restrictions in sections 11D and 11E.
Text in force at .
Source: legislation.gov.uk — The National Archives (legislation.gov.uk), reproduced under licence Open Government Licence v3.0.
What it actually says
This section applies when a court makes a child arrangements order (or varies one) that deals with where a child lives, with whom the child spends time, or when that contact happens. The court can then impose an "activity condition" — a requirement that a specified individual take part in an activity designed to help build, keep up, or improve that individual's (or another party's) involvement in the child's life.
The individual who must take part is either the person the child lives with, a person who has contact under the order, or someone already subject to a condition under section 11(7)(b). The order must name the activity and the provider. What counts as an allowed activity is the same as for activity directions in section 11A(5) and (6). The court cannot impose this condition if sections 11D or 11E restrict it.
When it applies
- A parent is ordered to attend a parenting course to improve communication with the other parent about the child's schedule.
- A grandparent who has contact with a child is required to take part in family mediation to resolve disagreements.
- A step-parent living with the child is required to attend counselling to support the child's relationship with the non-resident parent.
- A parent who previously refused contact is ordered to participate in a supported contact programme.
- A person subject to a previous order under section 11(7)(b) is required to complete an anger management course.
What this section does not say
- This section does not impose activity conditions on the child themselves; it only applies to adults listed in subsection (3).
- It does not deal with financial penalties or enforcement; those are covered by sections 11J to 11O.
- It does not apply outside family proceedings or to cases where no child arrangements order is made.
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This page reproduces the text of CA 1989 s. 11C in force at the date shown and explains it in general terms. It is not legal advice and takes no account of the circumstances of your case, which can change the answer completely. For a live dispute, for limitation periods, and before taking any step in court, consult a qualified lawyer in England and Wales.