Difference between revisions of "Family Education Trust"

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==Funding==
 
==Funding==
 
The Trust says that it ‘is funded entirely by voluntary donations’, taking no ‘government funding, directly or indirectly.’ <ref name="about"/>
 
The Trust says that it ‘is funded entirely by voluntary donations’, taking no ‘government funding, directly or indirectly.’ <ref name="about"/>
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In 2000 the Trust reportedly had over 2000 members. <ref>Catherine Bennett,[http://www.guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,5673,411226,00.html Valerie's moral lead]
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The Guardian, 14 December 2000, accessed March 2012 </ref>
  
 
==People==
 
==People==

Revision as of 17:29, 19 March 2012

Family Education Trust is a conservative moral campaign organisation created in 1971 and at first called the Responsible Society and then Family and Youth Concern.[1] The Trust which still refers to its former name in brackets after its name as Family Education Trust (Family & Youth Concern) describes itself as ‘a national educational trust which researches the causes and consequences of family breakdown.’ It claims that it has ‘no political or religious affiliations.’ [1] It is however a strongly conservative organisation and is informed by Christian fundamentalist views on the family and sexuality.

History

The original logo of the Family Education Trust and of its predecessor Family and Youth Concern

The Trust was founded in 1971 ‘by the late Stanley Ellison, a London GP specialising in preventative medicine.’[1]

After writing a letter to The Times, Ellison ‘was contacted by people who shared his concern that the breakdown of the traditional family could have long-lasting and serious consequences.’ Thus was the Responsible Society born. It later changed its name to Family and Youth Concern.

Ellison was concerned about the effects of the ‘permissive society’ and in particular what the Trust describes as ‘significant changes in both laws and social attitudes in such areas as divorce, having children outside of marriage, abortion and pornography.’[1] The Trust claims that it is not ideological but rather ‘research-based’. ‘There is no area in social science in which the evidence stacks up so completely on one side’, it claims: ‘marriage and traditional family life are associated with good outcomes in terms of health, wealth and other indicators of well-being.’[1]

The approach of the Trust pulls against the economic tenets of neoliberalism which promotes freedom in the market. It argues that ‘unfortunately, the view that people should be free to make their own choices, without having to accept any adverse consequences, dominates the public policy agenda.’ [1]

Activities

The Trust produces ‘publications, newsletters, videos, submissions to public enquiries’ and acts as ‘a point of contact for the media’ as well as producing ‘material for use in schools, much of which can be downloaded free from our website [1]’ and acts ‘in defense of the traditional family’(sic) [1]

Funding

The Trust says that it ‘is funded entirely by voluntary donations’, taking no ‘government funding, directly or indirectly.’ [1]

In 2000 the Trust reportedly had over 2000 members. [2]

People

Valerie Riches | Norman Wells (Director) | Irina Tyk

Former staff

Robert Whelan served as FET's director from 2000 until 2004. In his outgoing director's report Whelan said that his 'appointment as Director had been a serendipitous idea of Valerie Riches and had not been intended as a permanent one. He had enjoyed and valued the work which he had been able to combine with his work for Civitas to the benefit of both organisations. He praised the work of his former assistant, now Director, Norman Wells'. Whelan continues his association with FET as a trustee. [3]

Trustees circa 2010

Arthur Cornell MEd, F.Coll.P (Chairman); Betty, Lady Grantchester; Dr John Guly MB BS DMJ; Eric Hester BA (Vice Chairman); Simon J Ling MA FCA (Hon Treasurer); Denis Riches BSc (Secretary); Valerie Riches (Founder President); Dr Trevor Stammers BSc FRCGP DRCOG, DPAB; Robert Whelan MA (former Director of FET, 2000-04)[1]

Sponsors circa 2010

Professor John Bonnar MA MD FRCOG; The Viscountess Brentford OBE; Peter Dawson OBE BSc FRSA; Baroness Elles; The Duke of Montrose; Baroness O'Cathain OBE; Professor Dennis O'Keeffe [1] Professor Brenda Almond (circa 2011) Michael McKenzie (circa 2011) [4]

Executive Committee Members circa 2011

Ann Allen, Sarah Carter, Anna Lines, Gillian White, Fiona Wyatt

See Also

CARE | Conservative Family Campaign | LIFE | Order of Christian Unity | Family and Youth Concern | National Campaign for the Family | Centre for Contemporary Ministry | Conservative Christian Fellowship | Lords and Commons Family and Child Protection Group

Dame Jill Knight MP | Gerald Howarth MP

Affiliations

Resources, Contact, Notes

Resources

  • Martin Durham '[ FAMILY, MORALITY AND THE NEW RIGHT] Parliamentary Affairs (1985) 38(2): 180-191.
  • Jennifer Somerville '[ The New Right and family politics]' Economy and Society, Volume 21 Issue 2 1992. Pages 93 – 128
  • Martin Durham The New Right, moral crusades and the politics of the family Economy and Society, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 253 – 256
  • Jennifer Somerville [ Shadow boxing in family politics: reply to Martin Durham], Economy and Society, Volume 22, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 257 – 262
  • Joan U. Isaac THE NEW RIGHT AND THE MORAL SOCIETY, Parliamentary Affairs, Volume43, Issue2 Pp. 209-226.
  • D Luff ‘British “Moral Right” Women and feminism’, ‘’Sociological Research Online’’, 5(1) 2000

Contact

FET is registered as a charity in England and Wales by the Charity Commission (number 1070500).

Address: Jubilee House 19-21 High Street Whitton Twickenham TW2 7LB United Kingdom
Tel:02088942525
Email fyc@ukfamily.org.uk
Website: http://www.famyouth.org.uk/

Notes

  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Family Education Trust About Us, accessed 22 August 2010
  2. Catherine Bennett,Valerie's moral lead The Guardian, 14 December 2000, accessed March 2012
  3. Annual General Meeting & Conference - 12 June 2004, Family Education Trust, Bulletin No. 116 Summer 2004, acc March 2012
  4. FET Annual Review 2010-11