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Lots of interesting articles by our team about marriage and commitment, family policy, our research findings and other marriage-related stuff

STOP signs: Clues to what really went wrong in the Owens marriage

(photo credit PA) Embarrassing details of the marriage between Hugh and Tini Owens have now been splashed all over our papers and news. After many

July 26, 2018 2 Comments

The government’s feeble policy on strengthening families

What is the government doing to strengthen families? Given that providing support for families that have broken down costs £51 billion per year at last

July 26, 2018 2 Comments

Cost of family breakdown

Amicable or acrimonious, civilised or conflicted, cooperative or combative, whatever form it takes family breakdown was never the dream. Family always begins with an act

July 3, 2018 1 Comment

Children’s mental health: Forever repairing sand castles?

In December last year the government produced its green paper on children’s mental health. The opening paragraph begins with an optimistic note that the state

June 25, 2018 No Comments

It’s not ‘cuts’ that put children in care

I could have written it myself. In her foreword for a new report from IFS on spending on children’s services, Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield, said this:

June 12, 2018 2 Comments

All you need is … Love Island

Royal wedding preacher Michael Curry had it right when he said ‘there is power in love‘. And with love in the air, yes, ITV’s hit

June 5, 2018 1 Comment

Family breakdown costs £50bn a year

When couples split up, families move from one to two households. Poverty is a common outcome that affects children. Six out of ten lone parents are supported by the state compared to one out of ten couple parents. That's where most of the £50bn is spent.

UK Among highest family breakdown in Europe

Five years ago, the UK had the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe. We're not doing as badly today, but only because of big falls in divorce rates. Alas there's no sign of a similar improvement among cohabitees

Lower Divorce Rates – Higher Lone Parents

Divorce rates have plummeted over the past 3 decades, but the number of lone parents has doubled in the same period. Why?... Because unmarried parents make up only one in five cohabiting parents but are responsible for one half of all family breakdown.

Stability is found in Marriage

Whereas stability is the norm if parents are married (75% stay together), it is the exception if they are not (30% stay together). As a result, among parents of teens who are still together as a couple, nine out of ten are married

Single Most Important Factor

The single most important factor in a child’s healthy development is the stable relationship of the parents. Our groundbreaking research shows that family breakdown is the #1 predictor of teenage mental health problems.

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