
Same-sex religious marriages to get the go-ahead from September
Same-sex religious marriages will be able to take place in Northern Ireland from September 2020.The new regulations, which were laid in Westminster just over a month ago, will mean that same-sex couples will be allowed to have a religious wedding. At the moment, the religious marriage of same-sex couples is not allowed in Northern Ireland.From January, same-sex couples have been able...
The demand for foster care increases
The number of children needing foster care has risen by 44% during the coronavirus pandemic, according to children’s charity Barnardo’s.What’s more, the number of people looking to become foster parents fell by nearly half compared to the same period last year, causing the UK’s leading children’s charity to declare a ‘state of emergency’.Between 1st March and 23rd April 2020,...
Is marriage the answer to everything?
When you realise you want to spend the rest of your life with your other half, marriage may seem like the next logical step. But is getting married the right choice for everyone? Should you wait a little longer? We take a closer look…Consider cohabitation before tying the knotMore and more people are living together before saying ‘I do’. Sharing a living space with someone before...
Coping with redundancy in the family
Covid-19 is changing our lives in ways that were unimaginable only a year ago. One of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is the effect it is having on economies around the world. Unfortunately, some people have, and will be, made redundant as a result of this disease. And this will have repercussions not just for them, but for their whole family too.Dealing with losing a job...
How has the pandemic affected the lives of children?
COVID-19 has changed the way we all live our lives. For children, the pandemic has meant that schooling has been disrupted, playtime with friends has been restricted and time spent at home has dramatically increased.No school, disrupted routinesAs schools closed down across the country, parents were asked to homeschool their children to ensure that young people continued to learn...
Home shouldn’t be a place of fear
A couple of months ago, during the Coronavirus lockdown, the Welsh Government launched a campaign to raise awareness about domestic abuse and offer support to domestic abuse victims.Entitled, ‘Home shouldn’t be a place of fear’, the campaign’s main purpose is to ensure that victims and survivors of domestic abuse should know that they are not alone and that support is still available,...
Is it time to finally reunite with the family?
Not seeing our nearest and dearest has, for many of us, been one of the biggest challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with restrictions being relaxed, the government has said that those living in England are able to meet one other household indoors and in groups of up to six people outside (more if everyone is exclusively from two households).But with the virus still circulating, is...
Healthcare planning. Measures to protecting your family
COVID-19 has changed the way we live our lives. Whereas once we would head out to visit friends and family without a second thought, the pandemic has made us much more cautious about where we go and who we see due to the very real risk of infection. .For many of us, the pandemic has brought our mortality into sharp focus. While COVID-19 is, for the majority of people, a...
The number of divorces likely to surpass the number of weddings
Weddings and civil partnerships in England have been able to go ahead since last weekend, albeit under strict rules. With only 30 people allowed at ceremonies (including the couple, their witnesses and any staff, such as wedding photographers) and receptions limited to only two households being able to meet indoors, there’s no doubt that some couples will decide to put off their wedding plans...