Relationship Education across the Community to support the family – Conference 2005
By Dave Percival
Day 2 - Themes and Programme
Day 2 – Key Themes
The second day built on the theme “The future is Relational” looking at a series of areas where the relational barriers could be addressed. It’s underlying presumption, born out of most people’s experience, is that most people want to be good parents, and want good relationships.
Some of the key messages emerging were:-
- We are seeing a sea-change in the understanding and acceptance that there is an issue. Even as recently as 1994 a report from Rowntree Foundation was heavily suppressed because it demonstrated that family breakdown is bad for children! Relationships are not just a “private matter” – they impact society at large.
- Prevention rather than cure must be the way forward. The current ratio of £1 prevention for every £3000 on mopping up must be addressed. Public Services simply cannot be funded to deliver unlimited supply – there has to be a focus on demand reduction.
- Solutions are much harder than diagnosis – it requires diverting resources away from front-line services already under massive strain. Voluntary implementation is a huge potential resource - there has to be work in true partnerships. We have a huge diversity of resources, expertise, methods and tools already available
- The work needs to be (and to a large extent already is) based in sound theoretical models. We are intervening in a “system” where connectedness matters, where collaboration for maximum effect is key and where a holistic framework and policy is missing.
We left with the clear sense that there is a huge amount to be done, but inspired and excited by the collective energy and determination to make things happen.
Day 2 - Programme
Keynote Speakers
Dr James Wright: - The impact of family relationships on the workplace. (Slides)
Professor Jay Belsky: - How parent-child and family relations influence children’s development
David Hart: - The relationship breakdown in families has a major impact on our schools and our children’s education – the urgent need for effective relationship teaching and policies in our schools.
Claire Axten: - How do we run a school on relationship principles.
Workshops
Developing a holistic approach to relationship education across the community - Family Matters York
“Domestic Debt – a relationship killer” – Credit Action
Excellence and Enjoyment in learning relationships – Brookside School, Street
Breaking the Ice – an online inventory for secondary schools – Talk2me
A new relationship course for secondary schools – Marriage Care
Introductory Presentations
Aquila Trust
Believe
Care
Fathers Direct
Parent Education and Support Forum
Parent Talk
Positive Parenting
Post adoption centre
Relationships Foundation
Straight Talking
The Marriage Course
The Richmond Centre
