Relate Press Releases
JAN 10 / Relate’s response to Divorce statistics England and Wales
Claire Tyler, Chief Executive of Relate, the UK’s largest provider of relationship counselling, said:
“Today’s divorce figures show a total of 106,763 children aged under 16 saw their parents divorce in 2008. However this figure captures only part of the picture of family break up, as there are no statistics on the number of co-habiting parents who break up.
“Currently the Government spends around £7 million1 a year on relationships support, yet family breakdown costs the country an estimated £24 billion per year2. Politicians have recently been hotly discussing what makes people get married. These figures show that it isn’t just about getting couples up the aisle - what’s really important is that relationships last. That means couples need to be able to access relationship support when they are experiencing difficulties.
“Relationship support works, with 80% of respondents to a Relate survey, who wanted to keep their relationship together, saying they felt counselling helped to strengthen their relationship.
“Independent research also showed that 50% of separated people said they felt there were things they could have done to prevent their break-up, and they wished they’d done more3. That is why we need to see commitments from all political parties to support relationship services to help families in need.”
Ends
For further press information contact Mel Merritt Press Officer Relate 020 7554 2892 /07971 869735 / mel.merritt@relate.org.uk
ONS divorce statistics http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/div0110.pdf
Notes to Editors
• Relate’s services extend beyond couple counselling to family counselling, counselling for young people, online counselling, sex therapy and relationship skills workshops
• Relate works in schools, primary care settings, prisons, and with local authorities on homelessness prevention services
1DCSF, Support for All (Government Green Paper) Jan 2010
2The Centre for Social Justice, Every Family Matters, Breakthrough Britain, 2009
3DCSF, Support for All (Government Green Paper) Jan 2010