Before you say ‘I Do’ – How to be happily married for ever! (Relate guide)
Are you thinking about marriage, but afraid of ending up in the divorce statistics? Are you wondering if you're ready and able to make a public, lifelong commitment? "Before You Say 'I Do'" recognises that marriage takes courage, energy and self-knowledge, and leads you through a series of key questions about your relationship to help you discover if you have what it takes to make your marriage a lifelong success...
£7.49
About
Hello and welcome to Relate
Relate's vision is a future in which healthy relationships form the heart of a thriving society.
Our mission is to develop and support healthy relationships by:
- helping couples, families and individuals to make relationships work better
- delivering inclusive, high-quality services that are relevant at every stage of life
- helping both the public and policymakers to improve their understanding of relationships and what makes them flourish.
As the country’s largest provider of relationship support, every year we help over 150,000 people of all ages, backgrounds and sexual orientations. We have over 70 Centres across the country and a network of counsellors working at 600 locations as well as by phone and online.
Our services include relationship counselling for individuals and couples; family counselling; counselling for children and young people and sex therapy. We also provide friendly and informal workshops for people at important relationship life stages.
Relate campaigns to see relationship support for children, adults and families at the heart of the social justice agenda. We are members of the Kids in the Middle coalition, a group of national charities and agony aunts campaigning for better services for separating parents and their children. We are also part of the Family Room group of charities, who share a common voice on family policy.
Who we are
Relate is a national federated charity with over 70 years experience of supporting the nation’s relationships.
Relate is governed by a Board of Trustees, all of them volunteers, who are deeply committed to realising our vision of a future in which healthy and happy relationships form the heart of a thriving society.
Our interim CEO is Sarah Caulkin, who has taken over from Clare Tyler.
Read our Annual Review to find out more about our range of services
Learn more our work in our video and report 'Relate: the difference we make'
Kids in the Middle coalition
Relate is the lead agency of the Kids in the Middle coalition, a group of national charities and agony aunts campaigning for better services for separating parents and their children.
Our Ambassadors
Relate has a number of high profile individuals who believe in our work and are committed to spreading the word of Relate.
Danielle Lineker, model and television presenter
“1 in 3 families are now step-families but people don’t really talk about the issues. As a step-Mum and growing up in a step-family you realise there are no rules and no books out there for you - it can be really isolating. I think it’s really fantastic that Relate are offering help to step-families, people who find themselves in the same situation as me. Having somebody to talk to, to reassure you that you are doing a good job is so important.”
Click here to see a video of Danielle's message about Relate and Step-Families.
Bel Mooney, writer and broadcaster
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"Through writing my advice column in the Saturday Daily Mail (and before that, on the Times) I become increasingly aware of the enormous need for the services of Relate. Time and time again I suggest to readers that they get in touch with Relate - quite simply because the range offered is unsurpassed.
Nearly thirty years ago, as a very young journalist I wrote about what was then the National Marriage Guidance Council, and admired its work. That organisation grew and changed - and now Relate has spread its wings, offering wisdom and experience to help individuals, couples and whole families through their difficult times. I don't know what we would do without it."
Acclaimed novelist, Roopa Farooki
The critically acclaimed novelist of Bitter Sweets and Corner Shop, Roopa Farooki, has recently come on board as Relate's new Ambassador for Family Counselling. She said:
"I am delighted to take the role as Ambassador for Relate's Family Counselling Service; my husband and I found Relate's services invaluable at a difficult time in our relationship, and we have since had two wonderful children and celebrated fourteen years together."
We are also supported by celebrities who believe in our work with children and teenagers
Theo Walcott, Arsenal and England
"Young people can face lots of problems nowadays. Whether it's to do with parents splitting up, or bullying at school, it's good to know that they can talk confidentially to a Relate counsellor. I'd like to congratulate Relate on its 70th Anniversary: keep up the good work in helping children and young people to get over their relationship problems so they can feel happier at home, at school and with their friends."
Jacqueline Wilson, Children's Laureate 2005-2007
"I often write about troubled children and teenagers whose families are in conflict. It's so good to know that Relate offers such sensitive counselling for young people enduring similar situations."
Our History
Great social movements come from humble beginnings. Relate began life as the Marriage Guidance Council in 1938 through the pioneering work of Dr Herbert Gray who was committed to safeguarding the family as the basis of community life. Counselling was delivered from a small London office, opened in 1943, and over 8,000 clients were seen by a group of dedicated volunteers in the next five years.
In the 1950s, as family life began to recover after the traumas of the war years, the Marriage Guidance Council began to be recognised as a national institution providing dedicated and valuable work.
In 1988, we re-launched as Relate in recognition of our widened access to same sex couples, single people, children and young people and families. Today we have evolved into a modern, thriving organisation providing innovative responses to the needs of the communities we serve.
Our highly skilled work-force enable clients to feel better about their relationships; which has an impact on their ability to work or go to school, to maintain a stable home life and to get involved in their community. In housing, health, employment and emotional wellbeing, people who use Relate services see positive outcomes. Relate makes a difference at the heart of society.