Family Education Trust
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.
Contents
History
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]
People
Valerie Riches | Norman Wells (Director) | Irina Tyk
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, 200-2004)[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) [2]
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
- Coalition for Marriage - Norman Wells is a director
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/
