What is Marriage Care and what services does it offer?

Updated

Marriage Care is a UK-based Catholic charity that has provided relationship support for over 80 years. It offers two core services — relationship counselling and marriage preparation — delivered both online and in person. The counselling is open to couples and individuals who are married, living together, or in a long-term partnership, and the organisation states that it serves people "of faith or none." Fees for counselling are described as affordable and flexible, with the stated aim that no one is turned away for financial reasons.

Relationship counselling

This is the service to consider if you are trying to strengthen, repair, or better understand a relationship. According to the organisation, it covers situations such as:

  • Breakdowns in communication
  • Growing conflict
  • Feeling distant from one another

Sessions are available as couples counselling or individual sessions, led by trained counsellors. The stated goal is to help couples work through difficulties, rebuild trust, and improve understanding.

Format and access: online or face-to-face at local centres across the UK.

Cost: described as affordable, with flexible fees. The site does not publish specific prices, so you would need to contact Marriage Care directly to find out what you would pay.

Marriage preparation

This is aimed at couples preparing for married life, rather than at couples in difficulty. It is described as especially suitable for couples marrying in the Catholic Church. The sessions are designed to give couples time away from wedding planning to:

  • Explore their relationship
  • Learn skills and knowledge for married life
  • Develop a deeper understanding of the vows and promises they will make

Options: group sessions, or tailored one-to-one programmes, delivered by webcam or in person. Trained facilitators guide whichever route you choose.

Which service fits your situation?

Your situation Service to look at
Married, cohabiting, or in a long-term partnership and facing communication or trust difficulties Relationship counselling (couples or individual)
Engaged or preparing for marriage, especially in the Catholic Church Marriage preparation
Want to support the organisation rather than use its services Volunteering (the site lists volunteer vacancies)

What to check before you get in touch

  • Availability in your area or online. Counselling is offered online and at local centres, but the site does not list every location on the page summarised here — confirm what is available where you are.
  • Fees. "Affordable" and "flexible" are the only pricing descriptions given; no figures are published, so ask about cost when you enquire.
  • Faith position. Marriage Care is a Catholic charity, and its marriage preparation is particularly oriented to Catholic weddings, but it explicitly states its counselling is for people of any faith or none.

The practical next step is to contact Marriage Care through its website to ask about current service availability, waiting times, and fees for your circumstances.