This Sunday, 18th September, sees the Relationship Centre host Scottish Marriage Care's AGM. The event will be attended by 100 plus volunteers and 12 staff members. The event will consist of a short meeting where a commemorative edition of SMC's annual report will be unveiled, followed by a finger buffet.

Scottish Marriage Care this year celebrates 40 years of supporting families in Scotland with its relationship counselling service. Family support is currently in the spotlight as the Scottish Parliament is considering the Family Law (Scotland) Bill. The Stage 1 Debate was held yesterday.

Mary Chief Executive of SMC, Mary Toner says that adults in Scotland need better access to relationship counselling services. Many MSPs mentioned the importance of relationship counselling during yesterday’s debate, including Labour’s Mary Mulligan. Mulligan said: “One reason why people do not use counselling or mediation is that they do not know where to go. “Partnership conflicts and possible breakdowns of relationships are traumatic and we must ensure that it is easy for people to access the support services that they need”.

Mary Toner of SMC has called on the Scottish Parliament to promote understanding that counselling works for couples of all ages and stages. She knows that the damage caused by bitter relationships to individuals, families and the wider community is not fully understood.  From research, SMC knows that many couples have had relationship difficulties for up to seven years before they seek help from counselling.  This is a long-lasting, distressing, time for the adults, children and wider family.

Counselling does help unhappy relationships by reducing stress and changing negative behaviours and works equally well for men and women of all social backgrounds. Relationship   counselling   also reduces work absenteeism, improves productivity and enables couples/individuals to take on new skills and knowledge through the counselling process. Relationships can be helped at an early stage or when they have drastically deteriorated.  Damaged relationships do not need to end in separation, divorce or acrimony.  With the right help from relationship counselling services, couples can thrive individually, as can the children and wider family e.g. grandparents. 

For further information contact: Mary Toner, Scottish Marriage Care