You might well ask ‘who is Marriage Care’? We’ve been called a best-kept secret! Marriage Care is a charity operating across England and Wales, from 53 centres, with over 100 counselling locations and more than 750 volunteers.

We were established in 1946 in response to the pressure on family relationships following the Second World War. The world has changed dramatically in the past 60 years, but the need for support, education and help in the relationship field remains as great as ever.

Needing help and support with a marriage or a relationship can be hard to admit to, but Marriage Care isn’t here to judge – our aim is to help couples and individuals achieve greater harmony in their relationships.

Our counsellors are highly trained as the dynamics of couple counselling require a very specialist set of skills. They are passionate about what they do, recognising that most committed adult relationships face difficulties at some point. Couples and individuals needing a helping hand are welcomed and encouraged to attend a counselling session, and a course of six or so sessions is not uncommon. All counselling is conducted in accordance with British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guidelines.

For those looking to explore developing relationships in greater depth, Marriage Care offers group workshops. Aimed mainly at those approaching marriage from a faith-based perspective, these workshops explore all the elements common to a strong and lasting relationship.

Marriage Care also offers the FOCCUS programme, a computer-scored relationship inventory tool. It’s not as scary as it sounds! It aims to highlight the strengths and challenges of a particular relationship and provide a springboard for discussion. All sessions are moderated by trained practitioners.

One recent development for the charity has seen the extension of the telephone helpline into a 24/7 service. Marriage Care is now partnering with ParentlinePlus on this venture. For immediate support all day and every day, clients can phone either 0845 660 6000 or 0808 800 222.

We are not about making money – all we ask for is a contribution from our clients based on what they can afford and this is only to cover costs. Don’t be fooled by the name as you don’t have to be married to seek help from us. No problem is too small or insignificant – if it’s having a negative impact on your relationship, then we want to help you.

We operate locally from the John Paul Centre in Middlesbrough.

Tyneside Centre

3rd Floor
MEA House
Ellison Place
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8XS
Appointments: 0800 389 3801
General Enquiries: 0191 232 0342
E-mail: kathleen_tmc@yahoo.co.uk