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There are 18.6 million<br />
families in the UK. Some<br />
of these families will be<br />
in a season of great joy<br />
and happiness – relishing<br />
in the highs of life. But inevitably<br />
there will be others who are in the<br />
midst of great turmoil or sorrow<br />
and desperately in need of comfort<br />
and support.<br />
Almost 30 years ago Rob<br />
Parsons, OBE had the vision to<br />
begin an organisation that would<br />
not only help families in the hard<br />
times, but also help them to put<br />
down strong roots in the good<br />
times – so that they could weather<br />
the storms of life if and when<br />
they come. And so in<br />
1988 Care for the<br />
Family was founded.<br />
Working<br />
throughout the UK,<br />
Care for the Family<br />
provides support<br />
for families through<br />
events, resources,<br />
courses, training and<br />
volunteer networks.<br />
Here’s a little information<br />
about their three main areas of<br />
support for family life: parenting,<br />
marriage and bereavement.<br />
Parenting…<br />
Every parent would agree that<br />
raising children can be a physical<br />
and emotional rollercoaster! And<br />
that’s why mums and dads need<br />
all the support they can get – not<br />
only to help them through the<br />
joys and challenges of being a<br />
parent, but also to keep their<br />
own relationship strong. Care<br />
for the Family provides support<br />
and help for new parents, stepparents,<br />
single parents, those<br />
parenting children with additional<br />
needs, those adopting or fostering<br />
– and those facing the normal<br />
challenges of ‘everyday’ parenting.<br />
This support is available through<br />
helpful articles, befrienders, family<br />
activity holidays, books and DVD<br />
courses for use at home or in the<br />
community.<br />
Marriage…<br />
Care for the Family’s marriage<br />
support covers the whole<br />
spectrum of married life. Starting<br />
right at the very beginning with<br />
marriage preparation for engaged<br />
couples, their vision is to continue<br />
supporting couples through every<br />
season – whether they’ve been<br />
married for a few days<br />
or many years. The<br />
organisation’s most<br />
recent resource, The<br />
Marriage Sessions,<br />
is a four-part DVD<br />
based resource<br />
that explores how<br />
couples can build a<br />
fantastic relationship,<br />
and really enrich their<br />
marriages.<br />
Bereavement…<br />
Coping with the pain and<br />
heartache of a close bereavement<br />
is always difficult – not least when<br />
it’s accompanied by a sense of<br />
loneliness and a feeling that no<br />
one understands. Care for the<br />
Family wants to help those who<br />
are living with loss to discover<br />
hope for the future, and the<br />
strength to rebuild their lives<br />
and the lives of their families. In<br />
particular they offer support for<br />
bereaved parents and those who<br />
have been widowed young.<br />
To find out more visit www.<br />
careforthefamily.org.uk. Because<br />
family life matters!<br />
Care for the Family<br />
St Chad’s Church, Linden Avenue, Woodseats<br />
Church Office: Linden Avenue, Sheffield S8 0GA<br />
Tel: (0114) 274 5086<br />
Page 17<br />
email: office@stchads.org<br />
website: www.stchads.org
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