Family
Family
At the very beginning, God created the family as one of the great building blocks in society. He also established marriage from the dawn of creation, and He officiated at the first ever wedding service. Strong families are foundational to a healthy society. Marriages too are vital, representing the gold standard of commitment. CARE is committed to upholding both.
Our vision is to see society transformed by families being strengthened and more support being given to help couples stay together. We also want to see the current discrimination in our tax system against one-earner married couples with two children ended and marriage made a more financially appealing option for all.
In March 2017 Parliament voted to change the way sex education is taught in schools in England, introducing the new subject of relationships education in primary schools and changing sex education at secondary school to be relationships and sex education (RSE). Our new guide explains what this means.
Download the guide
Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desires permanence
For many years, CARE has been at the forefront of research on how families fare in the UK tax and benefits system, both domestically and internationally. Here you will find our latest research.
The Married Tax Allowance is free to apply for. Eligible couples can save up to £252 a year and it's possible to apply for backdated pay.
Apply today
In this deep dive, CARE's James Mildred looks at declining marriage rates and considers how we should respond.
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This report highlights that a shift in Government policy is needed. What the UK needs is a tax system that is fair, and which does not trap people in poverty even We recognise that the change called for in this report will come at a cost and will be complex, but as a society we should always strive for what is fair, even if its difficult to achieve.
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How rethinking income tax can free families from poverty
A new report from CARE for Scotland and Tax and Family examines how the Scottish Government can ensure the tax burden is more evenly distributed, by taking account of families and ultimately lifting more out of poverty.
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With international comparisons
The UK system of independent taxation linked with means tested benefits does not meet the needs of families in the 21st century. The result of decisions made in the 1980s and 90s is that families in the poorer half of the population, including those whose household income is below the widely accepted poverty line, now pay significant amounts of income tax. This timely analysis highlights the burden faced by single earner families and puts into stark relief the need to reform and reframe the way income tax operates in the UK.
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RSE Guide
In March 2017 the UK Parliament voted to change the way sex education is taught in schools in England, introducing the new subject of relationships education in primary schools and changing sex education at secondary school to be relationships and sex education (RSE).
Download our guide
by CARE fiscal policy consultants Don Draper and Leonard Beighton
Our latest tax report examines how UK families fare in comparison with their counterparts from the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) with regard to the overall tax burdens, income tax rates and Effective Marginal Tax Rates they face.
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CARE Staff
During National Marriage Week 2019, CARE published blogs on marriage and singleness by different members of the CARE team
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CARE Staff
CARE celebrated National Marriage Week 2020 with the story of Lyndon & Celia Bowring, and blogs on marriage from CARE staff.
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Family environment is crucial to children’s outcomes. It is the instability and disruption caused by family breakdown, coupled with poor parenting, that is so damaging to their outcomes.
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) published a review of the Family Test, five years on from its introduction by former PM David Cameron. The report concluded that: “it appears that there is often superficial engagement with the Test and little regard to the five component questions that comprise the Test. We are concerned that in examining responses from departments there seems to be a lack of awareness of the role of family within the policy objectives of each department.”
A review of the Family Test
Lord Farmer and Fiona Bruce MP co-sponsored a private members’ Bill, the Family Relationships (Impact Assessment and Targets) Bill , which would require government departments to publish a ‘Family Impact Assessment’ setting out the impact on families of any policy proposal. The Bill passed the House of Lords and made it to second reading in the House of Commons before running out of parliamentary time.
Family Relationships (Impact Assessment and Targets) Bill
The Government announced proposed reforms to divorce laws in England and Wales that would remove requirements to show cause for a divorce in the five facts and replace them with a simple notification system. The Government brought forward the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill, however the Bill did not pass all stages before the general election was called.
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A private members’ Bill sponsored by Tim Loughton MP and Baroness Hodgson introducing heterosexual civil partnerships into England and Wales was accepted by the Government. The Bill enables the Secretary of State to bring forward regulations that would amend the Civil Partnership Act 2004 to provide for civil partnerships for people of the opposite sex. The Bill states that the regulations must be in force by the end of 2019.
Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Act 2019
Heterosexual civil partnerships can now take place in the UK, and it is predicted that around 84,000 mixed-sex couples will become civil partners in 2020.
The re-elected Conservative Government reintroduced the Divorce, Separation and Dissolution Bill as one of the first pieces of legislation in its new legislative timetable.
Damaging No-Fault Divorce Bill Makes Unwelcome Return
The cost-of-living crisis is placing huge pressure on married couples, lawyers have warned, as they note a steep rise in divorce enquiries.
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Christians Against Poverty (CAP) are a national charity, working across the UK to lift people out of debt and poverty. They offer free debt counselling through a network of 260 debt centres based in local churches.
Find out more
Marriage shows us the unity of the gospel. Singleness shows us its sufficiency.
Culture
& society reflecting a better story
for everyone.
At the heart of all of CARE’s work is our determination to uphold the truth that human beings made in God’s image are immensely valuable and deserve to be treated with dignity and compassion.
We want to show a better story for our culture and society, and we want to be part of shaping that in structures that we are given as citizens in the UK…
Find out more about the better storyYour donation to CARE enables us to continue to work towards a culture and society reflecting a better story for everyone.
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Together we can make a difference shaping our culture and society. Here are three things you can do right now…
Our God answers prayer and we want to pray for marriages and families across our nation
Contact your MP and ask them to oppose the relaxation of Sunday trading laws
Find out more about CARE's work on supporting families