Families Matter! Relationships that last, do not 'just happen', it takes time & skill
We believe there is no single factor more critical to wellbeing, happiness and good health than relationships. Learning what it takes to create and sustain positive, long-lasting relationships, supports positive wellbeing, mental and physical health.
We are a small UK registered educational charity established in 2000. We facilitate youth-led sessions which empower young people to consider what it takes to create and sustain positive, lasting relationships. We work across Berkshire, Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Kent, London, Midlands and Wiltshire. Over the years, we have worked with
110,000+ young people.Our sessions are a unique experience for young people. Volunteer real-life couples open themselves up to questioning by young people in their classroom or youth club, sharing their own experiences to help young people challenge negative or unrealistic depictions of relationships and marriage they see on social media and reality television, and sometimes in day to day life. This enables them to think differently about commitment and relationships.
Students tell us that in our sessions they learn that happy marriages and long-term relationships do exist, how key friendship is to the longevity and permanence of a relationship, and that couples can remain together despite disagreements.
Our aim is to support young people’s wellbeing by:
- Counteracting negative or unrealistic media portrayals of relationships to help young people understand what real relationships are like.
- Providing hope to young people that healthy, happy and loving relationships do exist and they can have this type of relationship in their future.
- Helping young people recognise that all relationships, romantic or otherwise, require time and effort, and that experiencing challenges is part of life but can be overcome.
- Supporting young people to develop skills for positive relationships.
We rely on 'volunteer couples' to deliver our relationships education workshops. All you need to be is a dedicated couple with your own authentic story to tell - to be open and prepared to answer a range of personal questions from young people.
