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What is Marriage Care?
Marriage Care is a UK relationship-support charity, founded as a Catholic organisation and operating for over 80 years. It describes itself as open to couples whether married or not and of any faith or none, offering two core services: relationship counselling and marriage preparation, both online and in person.
Relationship counselling is aimed at couples and individuals who want to strengthen, repair or better understand their relationship — whether married, cohabiting or in a long-term partnership. The site describes trained counsellors providing a safe space to talk through communication breakdowns, conflict or growing distance, through couples sessions and individual sessions. Sessions are described as affordable with flexible fees, so cost is not meant to be a barrier.
Marriage preparation is for couples preparing for married life, and is presented as especially suitable for those marrying in the Catholic Church. Options range from group sessions to tailored one-to-one programmes, delivered by webcam or in person, with the stated aim of exploring the relationship and the vows couples will make, away from wedding planning.
The charity also invites volunteers and lists volunteer vacancies, so it is partly a volunteer-delivered service.
Who it suits, and what to weigh up
| Your situation | Marriage Care is likely a good fit if… | Consider alternatives if… |
|---|---|---|
| Engaged, marrying in a Catholic church | You want prep that engages with the vows and the faith context | You want a purely secular, skills-only course |
| Married or cohabiting, struggling to communicate | You want low-cost counselling with flexible fees | You need urgent mental-health or crisis support |
| Mixed-faith or no faith | You want a faith-founded provider that explicitly welcomes you | You want a counsellor matched strictly to your own tradition |
| Budget is tight | Flexible fees matter to you | You want private, full-fee therapy with faster scheduling |
Two practical trade-offs stand out. First, a charity model usually means lower cost but potentially longer waits and counsellors who may be trained volunteers rather than accredited private practitioners — worth asking about directly. Second, the Catholic foundation shapes the marriage preparation content in particular; the counselling is described as open to all, but if a faith-informed framing would feel uncomfortable, say so when you enquire.
Next step: decide which service matches your need, then contact Marriage Care through Marriage Care to ask about current waiting times, fee levels and whether online or local in-person sessions are available near you. If you are in crisis or facing abuse, contact emergency or specialist domestic-abuse services instead.
How much does relationship counselling with Marriage Care cost?
Marriage Care describes its counselling fees as affordable and flexible, and says no one is turned away for financial reasons. It does not publish a fixed price list on the page provided, so the exact amount depends on your circumstances and is confirmed when you book.
What that means in practice
- Fees are set on a sliding or flexible basis, so what one couple pays may differ from another.
- As a charity, Marriage Care positions itself as a low-cost option compared with private relationship counselling.
- Sessions are available online or face-to-face at local centres across the UK; the page does not indicate that the format changes the fee.
- It is open to couples and individuals, married or not, of any faith or none.
How to get an actual figure
Contact Marriage Care directly and ask two things: the standard session fee in your area, and whether a reduced rate applies to your household income. Have your general location and preferred format (online or in person) ready, since availability varies by centre.
Deciding whether it fits your budget
For context, private couples counselling in the UK commonly runs well above what a charity service charges, so if cost is your main constraint, a charity provider is usually the first place to check. If you need to compare, Relate is another long-established UK relationship support organisation, and COSRT lists accredited therapists if you want to see what private sessions typically involve.
What happens during a Marriage Care marriage preparation course?
A Marriage Care marriage preparation course is structured time for a couple to step back from wedding planning and focus on the relationship itself. Sessions are led by trained facilitators and are designed to help you explore your relationship, learn practical skills, and think through the vows and promises you will make. They are offered both online and in person, in group or one-to-one formats.
What the sessions typically involve
- Guided discussion between the two of you, rather than lectures or assessment.
- Time to talk about your relationship history, expectations and the transition into married life.
- Skills and knowledge for communication, conflict and staying connected.
- Reflection on the meaning of the marriage vows, particularly relevant for couples marrying in the Catholic Church.
Group versus one-to-one
| Format | Suits couples who | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Group sessions | Want to learn alongside other couples and hear different perspectives | Less time focused solely on your own relationship |
| One-to-one | Want privacy or a schedule that fits around work or distance | Usually fewer couples per facilitator, so availability may be tighter |
If you are marrying in the Catholic Church, the Catholic-focused content is likely the deciding factor. If you are not, the course is still open to you — Marriage Care states it welcomes couples of faith or none, married or not.
A practical next step
Before booking, ask two questions: how many sessions the course runs over, and whether it is group or one-to-one. Then agree with your partner what you each want to get out of it, so the sessions address your real relationship rather than only the wedding. For general context on what relationship support in the UK can involve, see Relate.
Can I get relationship counselling online through Marriage Care?
Yes. Marriage Care says it offers relationship counselling both online and in person, so you can attend sessions remotely rather than travelling to a local centre. The same page also describes couples counselling and individual sessions, and notes that the service is open to couples whether married, living together, or in a long-term partnership, and of any faith or none.
What online delivery likely means in practice
- You and your counsellor meet by video rather than in a room, which suits people with limited mobility, busy schedules, or no convenient centre nearby.
- It is still structured counselling with a trained counsellor, not a self-help course or a chat service.
- Marriage Care describes its fees as affordable with flexible fees, so cost should not be assumed to be a fixed figure; ask what applies to your circumstances.
How to decide between online and in person
| Consideration | Online | In person |
|---|---|---|
| Travel and time | Minimal; join from home | Requires getting to a local centre |
| Privacy | You need a quiet, private space | Neutral room, but you must travel |
| Suitability | Works well for talking and reflecting | Can feel more contained for high-conflict sessions |
| Availability | Often easier to fit around work or childcare | Depends on centre opening times |
If you are unsure, start by contacting Marriage Care and asking whether online sessions suit your situation, then book a first session. If either partner feels uncomfortable on camera, or if there is any concern about safety at home, say so when you enquire — that is a practical reason to choose in-person or to ask what alternatives exist.
For comparison, Relate also offers relationship counselling in the UK, including online options: Relate.
How do I book a counselling session or marriage preparation course with Marriage Care?
Marriage Care does not appear to offer a single online booking form for everything. The practical route is to start with the service you want, then contact the organisation directly to ask about availability and next steps.
Relationship counselling: Contact Marriage Care through its website to enquire about couples or individual counselling. Sessions are described as available online or face-to-face at local centres across the UK, with flexible fees. When you get in touch, it helps to say:
- Whether you want couples counselling or individual sessions
- Whether you prefer online or in-person appointments
- Your general location, so they can tell you about nearby centres
- Any preference for session times or frequency
- Whether cost is a concern, so fee options can be discussed
Marriage preparation: Marriage Care offers group sessions and tailored one-to-one programmes, both online and in person. These are especially aimed at couples marrying in the Catholic Church, though the page presents the organisation as welcoming to people of faith or none. Ask which formats are running, how far ahead to book, and whether your parish or diocese has a preferred route.
A useful next step is to visit Marriage Care and use its contact details to make a direct enquiry. If you are marrying in a Catholic church, mention that when you ask, because it may affect which preparation option is most suitable.
What volunteer roles are available at Marriage Care and how can I apply?
Marriage Care lists volunteering as a core part of its work and advertises specific openings on a "Volunteer vacancies" section of its website, so the practical route is to check that page for current roles rather than assume a fixed list. The organisation delivers its services partly through trained volunteers, so openings tend to sit around counselling, marriage preparation and local centre support.
Likely role types
- Relationship counselling: trained counsellors see couples and individuals, online or face-to-face at local centres.
- Marriage preparation: facilitators run group sessions or one-to-one programmes for couples preparing for marriage, including those marrying in the Catholic Church.
- Centre and administrative support: local centres across the UK need help with enquiries, scheduling and running sessions smoothly.
- Fundraising and awareness: as a charity, it depends on volunteers to sustain low-cost services.
How to apply
- Go to Marriage Care and open the "Volunteer vacancies" page.
- Read the role description for training requirements, time commitment and location.
- Submit the enquiry or application form shown for that role.
- Expect a conversation about suitability and training before starting, since counselling and preparation roles involve working directly with couples.
What to weigh up Counselling and preparation roles usually require more training and a longer commitment than administrative help, but they offer direct contact with the people the charity exists to serve. If you want to start sooner, ask about support roles at your nearest centre; if you want to work with couples, ask what training and supervision are provided before you apply.
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