This free monthly bulletin will keep you up-to-date with our projects and provides a listing of the most recent research and policy news concerning relationships and families.

You can visit iCOR - the online Information Centre on Relationships anytime for a regularly updated news board, conference listing, research and statistics on a wide range of topics and an online library of research papers from the field. If you would like copies of the iCOR leaflet please email ld@oneplusone.org.uk with your postal address and number of copies required.

Staff at One Plus One would like to wish all our subscribers a very happy Christmas and to thank you for your support during 2009.

We’ve had an exceptionally busy year in which we have seen visits to our service thecoupleconnection.net climb to over 250,000, with over 20,000 visitors each month. As 2009 comes to a close, users have been taking part in online surveys and focus groups which show how this innovative service is making a real difference to improving and strengthening couple relationships. 

2009 also saw the publication of When Couples Part: Understanding the Consequences for Adults and Children. With Green Papers on family relationships from both parties expected early in the new year its publication has proved timely and findings have been very well received by both of the main political parties, policy makers, academics and colleagues in the field.

In what has been a difficult year for many families we have also produced a wide range of resources to help practitioners recognise the importance of supporting strong couple relationships during the economic downturn.

We hope the success of thecoupleconnection.net and One Plus One will continue into 2010 and are looking forward to many exciting new developments as we continue to support couple and family relationships.

Professor of Medical Law, Sally Sheldon, from Kent Law School presented to staff and guests at One Plus One this month on Rewriting Parenthood: Reproductive Technologies and the Sexual Family. To view the slides from Sally's presentation click here.

The next One Plus One seminar will be held on Wednesday 13th January 2010. Chris Fitch from the Royal College of Psychiatrists will be presenting on:

Debt and mental health: an overview of selected evidence, key challenges, and available tools

“During the economic downturn, the link between recession and health has featured in many countries’ media, political, and medical debate. In the UK, this has included the likely effects of unemployment on morbidity and mortality, the relationship between economic conditions and suicide, and even the association between cardiovascular mortality rates and banking crises.

Less attention, however, has been given to personal debt, and in particular its relationship with mental health.  Given its economic significance, this is surprising.  At the end of 2008, UK households owed over £1220 billion in mortgage debt and £230 billion in unsecured consumer credit. Compared to 2007, there had been a 70% increase in the number of households with mortgage arrears of three months or more. Meanwhile, the proportion of households reporting unsecured debt as a financial burden in 2008 was the highest since 1995.   Furthermore, rising unemployment meant more households began to experience unanticipated changes in income or circumstance during 2008/2009.  In such circumstances, households often accrue debt by borrowing money to cope, or stopping bill payment altogether."

If you would like to attend the seminar please contact ld@oneplusone.org.uk.

Staff from One Plus One presented at this year's Family and Parenting Institute conference Policies for Families ... Challenges and Choices. Director of One Plus One, Penny Mansfield, Head of Research Dr Lester Coleman, Head of Policy and Dissemination, Justine Devenney and Head of Practice Development, Jan Mitcheson presented on Strengthening and Supporting Parental Relationships - The Missing Link. To view the slides from their presenation click here.