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National policies are followed consistently in every diocese. Further information, general advice and information concerning resources and training opportunities is available by contacting the Child Protection Co-ordinator within each diocese. Additional help can be obtained from the Catholic Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (COPCA), 12 St Paul's Square, Birmingham B3 1RB. Tel: 0121 233 1963 Fax: 0121 236 3379.
The Association of Interchurch Families offers a support network for families where the partners belong to different Christian denominations, particularly marriages between a Roman Catholic and a Christian of another denomination. Contact: Bastille Court , 2 Paris Garden, London SE1 8ND
The ASDC offers spiritual and practical support through self-help groups; most dioceses have a local coordinator. Services include a starter pack for anyone interested in forming a group, a bi-monthly newsletter New Vision, and a national helpline. Contact: c/o Cathedral House, 250 Chapel St, Salford, M3 5LL
Beginning Experience offers weekend residential programmes to those who have lost a partner through death, desertion, separation or divorce, to help them come to terms with their grief so that they can begin again. The weekend is led by trained volunteers who have themselves experienced such a loss and is primarily only for those who are ready to move forward. UK Contact: Kath Harding. Tel: 01942 246542 Email: kathharding@hotmail.co.uk
Bethany Family Institute was created to connect those who practise or encourage marriage and family life ministry in the UK & Ireland & elsewhere; to assist clergy, pastoral leaders, educators and catechists to reflect on various ways of serving families more effectively; to offer educational opportunities for leaders in family ministry and spirituality; to identify and describe the spiritual experiences and needs of families; to highlight and create resources for families in supporting their spiritual lives. Contact: PO Box 2858 , Wolverhampton WV3 0BX
Care for the Family aims to promote strong family life and to help those hurting because of family breakdown. They describe the heart of their work as “to come alongside people in the good times and in the tough times - bringing hope, compassion and some practical, down-to-earth help and encouragement.” Care for the Family produce a wide range of resources, books, packs and newsletters which can be accessed from their website. Contact: Care for the Family, PO Box 488 , Cardiff CF15 7YY
For over a decade, the Trust's resources have been the most popular parenting materials in Britain and Ireland - almost half a million parents have experienced at least one of the courses. Their resources for parents, couples and teenagers include an optional spiritual component and they also offer complete kits and training materials for leaders/facilitators. Contact: Family Caring, 8 Ashtree Enterprise Park, Newry, Co. Down, BT34 1BY
Marriage Care is a charity operating across England and Wales . Its purpose is to help people prepare for, achieve and sustain successful marriages and to support them should their marriages break down. Marriage Care has a number of centres across England and Wales which offer marriage preparation, counselling and education. Contact: 1 Blythe Mews, Blythe Road , London W14 0NW
Rainbows’ mission is to provide training and programmes for establishing peer support groups for children, adolescents and adults who are grieving a death, separation, desertion, divorce or other painful loss in their family. These services are offered through accredited sites, usually schools but sometimes other community organisations. Contact: Rainbows Resource Centre. Unit 7, Hightown Enterprise Park, York St, Luton LU2 0HA
Retrouvaille (pronounced retrovi) was established in Quebec , Canada in the 1970's. It was originally a French experience (Retrouvaille is the French word for “Rediscovery”) and was specifically designed to offer a peer ministry to those who are experiencing pain, separation and divorce in their marriage. It is firmly rooted in the teachings and theology of the Church, although weekends are open to couples of other religious denominations (and none). Website: www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Teams consist of Christian married couples. Members provide support and encouragement for each other on their spiritual journeys and in their daily lives. The team is an extended family; and it is this combination of friendship & support with the spiritual that is at the heart of Teams ethos. Website: www.teamsofourlady.org.uk
The UCM aims to follow the full Christian ideal of marriage and family life. Membership is open to all Catholic women, married or single, to non-Catholic wives of Catholic husbands and may be extended to women in sympathy with its aims and objects, which include helping Catholic married women to appreciate the Sacramental character, responsibilities and permanence of marriage and to assist them to bring up their children as practising Catholics and public-spiritual citizens. Website: www.theucm.org.uk
Worldwide Marriage Encounter is a movement within the Catholic Church, which began in the late 1960's, with the intention of giving married couples, priests and religious the opportunity to take responsibility for what is happening in their lives. Over 5 million couples in almost 100 counties have experienced a weekend. A Marriage Encounter Weekend offers couples the opportunity to refocus on the values that are really important to them and to live more joyful and purposeful lives. Website: www.wwme.org.uk |