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DEC 08 2011 / Relate's response to ONS divorce statistics
Responding to the divorce statistics released by the Office of National Statistics, John Loughton, Head of Public Policy at Relate, said:
"It's no surprise that the divorce rate is rising given the pressures that couples and families are under. In fact we are seeing more people than ever coming to Relate because of money worries.
"Combine rising unemployment and rising inflation, and you create a pressure cooker for relationships. But given that 60% of separated couples would have liked to save their relationships1, we need the Government to do more to ensure that everyone has access to relationship support at a much earlier stage, especially those on low incomes."
"We know that couples wait over two years before coming to Relate2, today's statistics are a stark reminder of the cost of ignoring relationship difficulties. We'd urge all couples to seek help as soon as they start having problems."
1Relationships matter, 2010
2 A survey of 257 participants who called Relate’s national number 0300 100 1234 (from June – July 2011)
Notes to editors:
Relate’s vision is a future in which healthy relationships form the heart of a thriving society
Relate’s services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and informal workshops
Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and Children’s Centres
Relate supports 150,000 people each year in over 600 locations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Relate has a workforce of 2,000 people nationwide