Commission on Families and Households June 2021 update

Chaired by Professor Janet Walker OBE and the Rt Rev Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham, the Commission has been established to consider how to renew support for families and households in England. It aims to offer practical and deliverable ideas on what enables families and households to thrive and prosper as the cornerstone of every community in our society.

The meeting provided an opportunity for the Commission to discuss their hopes and aspirations for the Commission, for the group to establish agreed methods of working, and for the Chair and Co-Chair to outline the proposed work programme ahead of the report’s scheduled publication date in the winter of 2022.

The Commission will focus particularly on four areas:  The theology underpinning our understanding of family life and households within society; the social history of families and households across the centuries and into the 21st century, and the changing nature and expectations of family life; how to promote and support the well-being of children and young people; and couple relationships, marriage, civil partnerships, cohabitation; and conflict resolution.

Working with experts, stakeholder groups, and people with lived experience, the Families and Households Commission has a wide remit. The Commission will make numerous visits to different organisations, work with MPs and Peers, and issue calls for evidence to gather information about the context of families and households in 2021, also taking account of the impact of the pandemic. The Commission will aim at every stage to ensure that it is responsive to the needs and voices of families and households, placing children and young people at the centre.

Any questions or enquiries about the Commission should be directed to our Contact page. We would be delighted to receive ideas and comments, and look forward to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders throughout this process.