A COUNTY relationship counselling service said it has seen a spike in visitors after the end of the summer holidays.

A boss at Relate Oxfordshire said couples often re-assess issues in September.

On the last week of the school holidays, 339 different people visited Relate Oxfordshire’s website.

This went up to 440 in the last week of September, an increase of 30 per cent.

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General manager Alison Frecknall said: “Families will have spent lots of time together over the holidays, which highlights issues.

“People also don’t want to talk about these things when the children are at home so they wait until school starts. September is a time of the year when people naturally assess their relationships and many people look to Relate for help.”

She added that big family changes, like children starting school or leaving for university, can force people to “refocus” their relationships.

Relate provides professional mediation, face-to-face counselling, and courses for parents and children in Oxford, Bicester, Banbury, Abingdon and Witney.

Last year it provided about 5,000 sessions, helping more than 800 families with relationship problems.

Ms Frecknall said: “It’s such an important thing that we do. We know the impact damaged relationships have – not just on the people in that relationship, but others as well.

“There’s a social impact as well, there’s a ripple effect. If children are growing up in healthier environments then we can try to stop history repeating itself for their future.”

The charity needs about £270,000 a year and is breaking even, but Ms Frecknall said funding remains a struggle.

She said: “Relationship help shouldn’t be means-tested, it should be accessible to everyone.”

  •  For more information call 0300 100 1234 or visit relate-oxfordshire.org

Top tips from Relate

  • Talk honestly. Let your partner know if it was not the summer you were hoping for and that you would like to discuss your relationship. Try to do this at a time when you are not too tired and stressed, and when you can talk in private.
  •  Take things slowly. September can be a difficult time of the year for families, especially when they go back to work or school after a break. Try not to make any major decisions in a hurry and give your family time to adjust to a new routine.
  •  Check in with children. Children pick up on more than we realise, and it’s important to find out how they are doing. Put time aside to see how they are getting on and reassure them that any issues you are having do not reflect on them.


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