Positive relationships are at the heart of our wellbeing. When family relationships are under strain, the impact can be felt across every aspect of life, including mental health, physical health, financial stability and community connection. Relationships Scotland exists to support individuals, couples, children and families through these challenges, helping people build healthier relationships and to navigate periods of change and crisis.
The organisation is a national network of 21 Member Services delivering support across the mainland and islands of Scotland. Together, we provide relationship counselling, family mediation, child contact centres and a range of family support services to tens of thousands of people each year. Our services are available to individuals, couples, parents, children and wider family members experiencing relationship difficulties, separation, family conflict or major life transitions.
For Community Link Workers and other professionals working across health and social care, Relationships Scotland offers a valuable source of support for people whose wellbeing is being affected by relationship and family issues. Referrals may be appropriate where clients are experiencing relationship distress, communication difficulties, family conflict, separation, co-parenting challenges, or where children are struggling with family change.
Our Member Services deliver support tailored to the needs of their communities. Alongside relationship counselling and family mediation, many services offer specialist support for children and young people, parenting programmes, intergenerational family support and services designed to reduce conflict and strengthen family relationships.
Supporting this work is the Relationships Scotland National Office, based in Edinburgh. The National Office provides professional training, accreditation, quality assurance and practice development across the network, ensuring that services are delivered to consistently high standards. It also acts as a national voice for relationship and family support, contributing to policy development and advocating for the importance of healthy relationships in improving outcomes for children, families and communities.
The importance of prevention, early intervention and whole-family approaches is widely recognised and relationship support has an increasingly important role to play. By helping people address difficulties before they escalate, Member Services contribute to improved wellbeing, stronger family relationships and more resilient communities.
Community Link Workers and other practitioners interested in learning more about local services can find details of their nearest Relationships Scotland Member Service through our national website or by contacting our Information Line.
Blog by: Harriet Inglis, Head of Professional Practice, Relationship Scotland
www.relationships-scotland.org.uk
Phone: 0345 119 2020
