Why Families Matter

At Family Action we know that families come in all shapes and sizes. When we talk about families we don’t only mean people related by blood or marriage; we believe that families have a right to define themselves. No matter how they are constructed, Family Action is committed to supporting families to realise their potential.

Family Action supports ‘Lets Lose the Labels’, a new campaign from Gingerbread, the single parents’ charity.

The campaign seeks to combat the stigma and stereotyping around being a single parent. Watch their short film and find out more about the campaign.

Young mum & baby copyright Family Action

A stable and loving family life is what gives children the security they need to be able to flourish and fulfill their potential. All families face difficulties and challenges and many will find ways to deal with their problems, getting the support they need from friends and relatives.

There are times, however, when problems can seem too overwhelming to manage, and parents may struggle at these times to provide a nurturing environment for their children.

Family Action works to tackle some of the most complex and difficult issues facing families today – including financial hardship, domestic abuse, mental health problems, learning disabilities, or substance misuse and alcohol problems.

Over 3 million children are living in poverty. 1 million of these children are living in severe and enduring poverty. Find out why poverty damages families.
At least 750,000 children a year witness domestic abuse. In about half of all domestic abuse situations, they are also being directly abused themselves. Find out about the impact domestic abuse has on family life.
154,000 children in England live with a parent who has a severe and enduring mental health problem. Find out how severe mental illness affects families.
175,000 children in the UK care for a sick or disabled relative. Find out more about family life for young carers.

These issues can have a huge impact on the stability of family life, and will have a significant impact on the health, wellbeing and development of children.

Family Action believes that families facing these difficulties should have the support they need to become stronger, happier and healthier. With the right kind of support, families can overcome their difficulties and give their children hope for a brighter future.